When you look at a distant object you can feel your eyes adjust as that thing comes into focus. For example, when I look up from my computer and see a tree in the distance. But, what is happening when you stare at the sky or something incredibly far away that you can’t clearly make out? Does your brain know it can’t “focus” on that and relax your eyes? I guess what I’m asking is what triggers that “focusing” reaction and how does your brain tell the difference?
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When you stare mindlessly your eyes relax and two things are going on:
1. they are focused on some location (e.g. the eye is always shaped such that _some place_ n the field of view is in focus – there may not be anything in that location, but the lens has a focal point on the back of your eye regardless.
2. you are likely not having both eyes pointing in the same place. your eyes get lazy when you’re spacing out and you effectively give yourself a temporary astigmatism – this is why you see some vague double-imaging when you’re zoned out.
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