* Water absorbs light: Whales live in an environment where light is limited, especially in deep water.
* Evolutionary adaptation: Their primary senses are hearing and echolocation, which are more effective in their underwater environment. Their eyesight has likely adapted to be less important.
While they can see, it's believed their vision is mainly used for:
* Distinguishing light and dark: They can likely see shapes and movement, but not with the detail we humans enjoy.
* Predator avoidance: They can use their limited vision to detect large objects moving towards them, but not for detailed identification.
Important Note: There are variations in vision among different whale species. Some species, like the beluga whale, may have better vision than others.