I went blind at the age of eight years old in 2008 due to a relapse of cancer. I noticed that for the first few years after I went blind I would have very vivid and colorful dreams. But as time went by I noticed I was starting to have fewer and fewer dreams in color, eventually the vivid colors I once experienced in my dreams turned into a whitish gray haze obstructing my vision. I am 21 years old now and I am completely blind in my dreams as I am in real life at this point. My dreams are usually based on emotions and physical sensations rather than visual aspects now. I’m curious to know what your guys dreams are like as blind/visually impaired individuals?
bscross322 points2y ago
I mostly don't remember them. When I do, they're very weird. Back when I had no AC and was always warm or hot when I slept, that contributed to very sexual dreams. every once in a while, one will stand out for some time. Only once in my life have I ever had one that's left a long standing impression that's still with me to this day.
UpsideDownwardSpiral2 points2y ago
I'm not completely blind. Earlier this year I lost complete vision in my right eye and most of my vision in my left from optic nerve damage.
My remaining vision is complicated by the fact that my optic nerve is partially damaged, so I don't experience colors the same way that I used to, along with a lack of peripheral vision (tunnel vision). It can change for better or worse throughout the day, and in different lighting, I experience colors much less- they seem greyish, as you described in your dreams. The exception being certain shades of blue that will stand out really brightly- and can sometimes seem like they are glowing which I find kind of cool.
My vision loss was recent enough that I still dream very vividly. I think I might be noticing it more now than I did before my vision changed. I never felt like I had amazing vision, but now in my dreams I definitely do. And waking up it can still take me a few moments to realize that my vision is gone, which can be a pretty disappointing way to wake up every day. I do hope that I keep dreaming with vivid vision, but I suspect that eventually my dreams will become more in line with my actual reality as I built new memories and experiences with it.
DrillInstructorJan4 points2y ago
I used to wake up from sighted dreams for years and I completely get where you're coming from. For background information I went blind at 19 and that was more than 20 years ago. I still have sighted dreams but I think the main difference is that they aren't shocking enough to wake me up anymore, so I don't really have that experience. I certainly used to though and yes, it is grim.
But yes after 20 years it still happens. I'm no longer very sure if what I see in my dreams is actually much like the real world but I think it is.
oncenightvaler1 points2y ago
So in my dreams it's often like stories in my mind. I can never see in my dreams but I often instantly know where I am and don't need my cane in my dream (unless it's one of those weird dreams that people get where they think it's their normal life)
I would say I'm fairly good at lucid dreaming that I can tell my mind before I go to sleep what I want to dream about and try to steer my mental journeys. I have plenty of good dreams but also have nightmares like anyone.
One vivid nightmare from last year was I was in this odd cage in a mental assylum and they kept telling me "It's all your fault" but would not tell me of what I was guilty. Likewise I've had dreams of being chased by roaring monsters or dreams of either exciting flying or running from villains.
BenandGracie1 points2y ago
I have been totally blind since the age of 3, and I had limited vision before that. I have always dreamed as a blind person. The only weird thing about most of my dreams, is I always seem to know the area I am in. I always know the layout of a building. I wish I had that skill in the waking world.
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