eli5, how is it that cameras can see clearly underwater whereas human vision gets blurry?

Question

eli5, how is it that cameras can see clearly underwater whereas human vision gets blurry?

In: 245

Answer 1

Because the refraction index of air is tightly accounted for by one of the cornea (which is basically water) shape, which is acting as a lense. When you are under water, the cornea is surrounded by water, effectively, almost completely nullifying the lens effect of it. If you add an air gap between the eye and the water (like a scuba diving mask), then the vision works fine. Similarly, the camera lenses are not directly exposed to the water. There is a flat surface, glass membrane that allows the lensing to occur unaffected.