Thread: Trying To Force Dream Eyes Open Against Visual Problems - Huge Mistake??

Just a thought - when I've been experiencing visual problems in LDs - I think, I've sometimes reacted by going about forcing my dream-eyes to open up more.
And now I have the nagging feeling, that this ended up with me opening my real ones, and thus waking up.
Could that be so?
Has anybody else experienced such a thing?

Yes, that happens sometimes. I think your strategy can work ( why not ? it makes sense ). Personally, i have my own risky technique. I let the dream fade, usually by closing my dream eyes, and then i try to wait for the next dream scene ( or i create one by getting out of bed in my mind ) and to my surprise it's like the dream gets better definition with each «reincarnation» or reentry, but it's not uncommon to lose lucidity too

Worst case, it's possible to cause you to wake up or have an fa where you lose your lucidity. If you become blind or close your eyes, it may help to expect (or yet better know!) you can see through your eyelids and wait for the scene to return or the next scene to appear. You can stimulate the process by trying to distinguish some features as they are coming to life through the darkness - a bit like with some wilds.

What VT said's also a good strategy. I guess those two are more or less versions of the same thing...

Yeah - I meant it more as a warning to not try to open your eyes more widely in an LD - you could end up opening the real ones into wakefulness.

Got it! Well, we've certainly passed the message along.

Yes it has happened to me many times, but when I do this I make sure that I am in the process of engaging with the dream with sensation just in case. In other words, when I do open my real eyes I shut them immediately and refocus the dream. Just expect it to happen and relax, because the excitement itself will wake you. Opening your real eyes does have the bonus of reminding you where you are sleeping if you can't seem to remember.

I actually used to have this problem. Either I'd wake up, or I'd spend too much time prying my eye open.

The best thing that's worked for me so far is saying that I can see through my eyelids. It's worked every time so far.

Thank you guys for your tips!

Does talking to yourself work?
I keep forgetting to try asking for something out loud and expecting it - like clarity - or to pretend, I have something over my eyes to do away with - or glasses.
Does anybody have experiences with these things?
My last LD was optically fine, actually - not hyper-realistic, but finally no problems..
Rather low lucidity though - lost it in between even - ooh NyxCC - forgot to tell you - will do!

Originally Posted by StephL

I keep forgetting to try asking for something out loud and expecting it - like clarity - or to pretend, I have something over my eyes to do away with - or glasses.

It works.

I use this method to summon objects and characters - it even helps to do certain things or have people react in a certain way.

I find that visual problems in LDs don't have anything to do with my eyes, physical or otherwise. The problem seems to always stem from consciousness. Consciousness is retracting from the dreamscape and needs to go back out. Get interested in the dream. Pick up an object, inspect it. Become curious. As soon as you put attention on your self, you start leaving the dream. You're becoming separate. In a high level lucid dream, your attention is out in the world.

I like the idea that sivason had of just removing something from your eyes.

I also like just raising awareness though. "My eyes are blurry. Screw that. I don't have eyes in dreams anyways. My eyes are actually shut in bed. I do what I want!"

I had clouded/"veiled" vision in one dream this month and I recalled the "pretend you're removing a veil over your head/eyes" and I did that and it worked perfectly resulting in super clear vision.

Originally Posted by DreamscapeGoat

It works.

I use this method to summon objects and characters - it even helps to do certain things or have people react in a certain way.

Originally Posted by FryingMan

I had clouded/"veiled" vision in one dream this month and I recalled the "pretend you're removing a veil over your head/eyes" and I did that and it worked perfectly resulting in super clear vision.

Oh wow - thank you so much guys - a motivation to remember voice and veil the next time!

Originally Posted by cvdmehden

I find that visual problems in LDs don't have anything to do with my eyes, physical or otherwise. The problem seems to always stem from consciousness. Consciousness is retracting from the dreamscape and needs to go back out. Get interested in the dream. Pick up an object, inspect it. Become curious. As soon as you put attention on your self, you start leaving the dream. You're becoming separate. In a high level lucid dream, your attention is out in the world.

This rings very true to me, and very profound and powerful - the fear to loose the dream lets me spiral in on myself - I will try to pour my attention outwards.
Thank you!