History Main / ByTheEyesOfTheBlind

* The classic short story ''Eight O'Clock in the Morning'' by Ray Nelson had monsters who could only be seen after awakening from hypnosis. Under normal circumstances, the aliens were visible, but appeared to be average human beings. It was adapted into the SoBadItsGood movie ''They Live'', where the monsters can only be seen by wearing special sunglasses.

* In ''Literature/TheLastUnicorn'', normal humans can't see the titular unicorn (or unicorns in general). All they will see is a white mare at best. It is implied that only some humans who deeply believe in their existence, such as Molly, or being possessing magic, such as Schmendrick and the witch who captures her early in the movie, can see her who what she truly is. Said witch had to create on her a ''fake'' horn in order to make people believe she was a true unicorn, since they can't see her real horn. Haggard himself can see through her human disguise because, as he puts it, everything in her behaviour betrays her real nature. Finally, the skull saw right through her disguise.

* ''[[Literature/NightmaresAndDreamscapes The Ten O'Clock People]]'', by Creator/StephenKing, had monsters that appeared as human but could only be identified by people who smoke a certain amount (roughly a couple a day, but not heavily).

* Implied in many works from ''Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos''. Typically, only Slender Man's intended victims can actually see him unassisted. However, he always shows up in pictures and videos, which is why the more GenreSavvy characters (i.e. [[WebVideo/MarbleHornets Alex Kralie]], [[TribeTwelve Milo]],) start keeping a camera with them at all times. Then, when other characters review said pictures and videos, they end up going "Hey wait, why didn't I ever notice that rather obvious tall, faceless guy in the business suit when I was actually there?" Unfortunately, realizing that Slender Man exists is an easy way to get on his list...

* ''StarTrekNewFrontier'', "Gods Above": No one but Moke can see Woden and an [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascended McHenry]] at first, but that's because 1. [[spoiler:Moke is Woden's son]]; 2. Woden's enemies are keeping them concealed, and 3. They don't see them because [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve they don't believe they're there]].

** ''Discworld'' also brings us the expression '[[TrueSight First Sight]]' from the Tiffany Aching books. Apparently Second Sight is the ability to see things that aren't really there (most people have this), but First Sight is the ability to see things that ''are'', whether or not you're expecting them. Wizards are trained to have this ability basically as soon as they start at the Unseen University, and it's a great help to naturally have it if you're going to be a witch. Carrot's extremely straightforward nature may correlate somehow.

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E10VincentAndTheDoctor "Vincent and the Doctor"]]: Only Vincent van Gogh can see the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Krafayis]]. No explanation is given for this, but it has something to do with his artistic mind and / or depression.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E8MummyOnTheOrientExpress "Mummy On the Orient Express"]], the Foretold, the show's titular mummy, can only be seen by its intended victims, who then have roughly one minute before the Foretold kills them. The Doctor ultimately manages to take the place of one potential victim to see the Foretold and figure out how to stop him.

* In the final season of ''Series/SlingsAndArrows'', Geoffrey and his ghostly mentor Oliver Wells hazard that the only ones who can see Oliver (besides Geoffrey...who is is probably mad) are people near death.

* Amaterasu from ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' is visible to everyone, but the FacialMarkings that indicate her divinity only show up to people who still [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve have faith in the gods]]. Similarly, she can only be understood by supernatural creatures such as Poncles, Celestials, and other gods. One particularily devout follower actually does happen to be blind, and all he sees is a beautiful maiden standing before him. Issun (a Poncle) is confused about what the guy is talking about, because he doesn't see anyone but the Furball herself.
* In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'' demons are invisible unless viewed through a [[SeeThruSpecs Demonica visor with the Devil Summoning Program installed]]. Even ''then'', they just show up as a bit of graphical corruption on the HUD until the program gathers enough information to display their actual appearance.

* And then there's ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'''s Koishi Komeji, a mindreading girl who closed her [[ExtraEyes third eye]] (located on her [[{{Squick}} external]] [[EyesDoNotBelongThere heart]]) in order to escape all [[BreakTheCutie the hatred]] [[BlessedWithSuck that comes]] [[ForgotAboutTheMindReader from reading people's]] [[AMindIsATerribleThingToRead darkest thoughts]]. However, closing off her eye also [[EmptyShell closed off her heart and mind]] on top of giving her the ability to [[PsychicPowers manipulate peoples' subconscious]]. Consequently, [[PerceptionFilter no-one is able to establish an emotional connection with her or feel her presence]] ''even when looking straight at her'', and as soon as she leaves a person's field of vision they [[LaserGuidedAmnesia immediately forget all about having ever even seen or met her]]. However, her powers don't work as well on children and sometimes she [[NotSoImaginaryFriend plays with them]]. However, most of them forget about her as they grow up.

* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfShanShan'': [[http://shanshan.upperrealms.com/view.php?pageid=004&chapterid=1 Shan Shan is special and can see and hear things others can't.]]

* Implied in many works from TheSlenderManMythos. Typically, only Slender Man's intended victims can actually see him unassisted. However, he always shows up in pictures and videos, which is why the more GenreSavvy characters (i.e. [[WebVideo/MarbleHornets Alex Kralie]], [[TribeTwelve Milo]],) start keeping a camera with them at all times. Then, when other characters review said pictures and videos, they end up going "Hey wait, why didn't I ever notice that rather obvious tall, faceless guy in the business suit when I was actually there?" Unfortunately, realizing that Slender Man exists is an easy way to get on his list...

* In ''Manga/BlueDrop'', Mari is the only one who can see the holographic projection of Tsubael, the {{Bridge Bunn|ies}}y from Hagino's spaceship, Blue. It is hinted that Michiko can see her as well.
* In ''Manga/FightIppatsuJuudenChan'', Charger Girls use a cloaking system to hide themselves from the populace of Earth (normally, they're transparent, but can still be seen), and while cloaked, can only be seen or touched by other people from Life Core. And Sento, for some reason. Sento's ability to see and touch them is never explained in the anime, but [[spoiler: he does briefly lose the ability to do so while depressed.]]

* Dream-dwelling killer Freddy Krueger from ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'' can only be seen by someone asleep and dreaming.
* In ''Film/TheFrighteners'', those who have a traumatic experience sometimes have their perception altered. This allows them to see ghosts, the white light/stairway to heaven, and [[TheGrimReaper other... things.]]
* ''Film/DropDeadFred'', whom only the protagonist can see.

* In the ''Franchise/StarWars'' novel ''Dark Apprentice'', [[spoiler: Luke Skywalker]]'s Force ghost can be seen only by the Solo twins, Jacen and Jaina. Although they see him through the Force, the trope still applies since the other Jedi were unable to detect him.

* ''StarTrekNewFrontier'', "Gods Above": No one but Moke can see Woden and an [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascended McHenry]] at first, but that's because 1. [[spoiler:Moke is Woden's son]]; 2. Woden's enemies are keeping them concealed, and 3. They don't see them because [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve they don't believe they're there]].

* ''Literature/MissPeregrinesHomeForPeculiarChildren'': Hollowgasts are invisible to all but a ''very'' few peculiars with the unique peculiarity of being able to see them, such as [[spoiler: Abraham and Jacob Portman]].

* The insect-like creatures from a parallel universe in ''Series/StargateSG1'' could only be seen by those irradiated by the alien device brought by SG-1, or those who touched them. Interestingly, the creatures themselves did absolutely nothing (since they had always been there), but suddenly being able to see them led to some... panic.
** Also, beings with Naquadah in their blood (Goa'uld symbiotes and by extension anyone who has ever had a symbiote in their body) can sense when others have Naquadah in their systems. After Carter is briefly taken as host by a Tok'ra, her ability to sense Goa'uld comes in handy. Goa'uld can also sense Reetou, an insectoid race that exists out of phase from our universe.

* On ''Series/{{Lost}}'', Hurley theorizes that only he, Locke, and Ben can see Jacob's cabin because they are the craziest ones.
* In the final season of ''Series/SlingsAndArrows'', Geoffrey and his ghostly mentor Oliver Wells hazard that the only ones who can see Oliver (besides Geoffrey...who is is probably mad) are people near death.
* In ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight'', mirror monsters can only be seen by Riders and those few {{Muggles}} who have been to the mirror world. The same goes for being able to look into a reflection and see battles taking place in mirror world. When a fight takes place in reality, most people tend to see Riders punching and yelling at thin air.
* Vorlons in ''Series/BabylonFive'' cannot be seen by those who have been touched by the Shadows.
* In ''Series/{{Angel}}'' only people whose blood has mixed with [[EldritchAbomination Jasmine's]] can see beyond her beauty to see the creepy maggot-infested walking EldritchAbomination she is. Subverted with [[spoiler: Connor]] who always saw her as a maggot-infested walking EldritchAbomination because [[spoiler: ''he was her father''. Yeah. Talk about a face only a parent could love]].

* ''Series/TheXFiles'' episode "Folie a Deux" featured a monster disguised as a human working in a telemarketing company, escaping detection by apparently "hiding in the light", and is able to kill people and control their corpses without anyone else noticing they're dead. An employee named Lambert, however, is able to see him as he is, as well as those whom he killed. Everyone thinks he's crazy, but he manages to get Mulder to see the monster as well.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "Vincent and the Doctor", only Vincent van Gogh can see the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Krafayis]]. No explanation is given for this, but it has something to do with his artistic mind and / or depression.
** In "Mummy On the Orient Express", the Foretold, the show's titular mummy, can only be seen by its intended victims, who then have roughly one minute before the Foretold kills them. The Doctor ultimately manages to take the place of one potential victim to see the Foretold and figure out how to stop him.

* In ''Series/TeenAngel'', Grandpa Jerry can see angels and Rod because of a near-death experience.
* In ''Series/{{Grimm}}'', the many types of monsters that inhabit our world, as seen in [[Literature/LittleRedRidingHood certain fairy tales]], appear to be normal humans to everyone except other monsters and members of the [[Creator/TheBrothersGrimm Grimm family]].
* In [[Series/BeingHumanUS both versions]] of ''Series/{{Being Human|UK}}'', only people who are somehow supernatural (including vampires, werewolves, and zombies) can see ghosts.

* Spoofed in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' with Osmodiar, a similar-looking alien that can only be seen by Homer. And indeed, the audience can't see it either.
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' was centered around Danny childishly breaking stuff and blaming a ghost that no one else could see. Turned out, he was right; the ghost was only visible to children or those with a similar mentality. Jazz was eventually able to see him once she was forcibly reminded she's not as adult as she likes to think.
* One of the reasons the Ice King from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' went insane [[WasOnceAMan from his original transformation via the crown]] was because he has been seeing spirits ever since he donned the artifact.

* The Spectres in ''HisDarkMaterials'' can only be seen by children, but feed on the minds/souls of adults.

* Inverted in FredricBrown's ''MartiansGoHome''. The Martians are real, and everyone on earth can see them -- in fact, it's impossible not to -- except for one guy, thanks to a Martian-caused nervous breakdown.

* In the tabletop role-playing game ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'', a Changeling's mien (that is, their true, Fae-inspired appearance) is virtually impossible to detect against a Changeling's will, even to other magical folk; though there may be enough bleedover to make their mundane appearance unique or unusual enough to make others suspect there could be something wrong , the illusion of a normal visage, called the Mask, is complete and almost impenetrable. However, one book lists optional conditions for people who are naturally capable of seeing through it-- such as the [[MagicalSeventhSon seventh son of a seventh son]], a person with heterochromia, or someone born on Leap Day.

* BillyJoel uses this trope word-for-word as a lyric in his song "River of Dreams".

* In an episode of ''SkunkFu'' the invisible ninja monkeys could only be seen by stupid people so Ox the dumbest cast member was the only one able to see and fight them. Skunk and the others think of stupid thoughts and are then able to see them.
* In the ''SushiPack'' episode "The Thing That Wasn't There," only Maguro can see the electrical monster that's wreaking havoc in Wharf City. Whether or not this is due to her mental powers is never explained, and she herself says she doesn't know why she can see it while the others can't.
* Spoofed in ''TheSimpsons'' with Osmodiar, a similar-looking alien that can only be seen by Homer. And indeed, the audience can't see it either.

* The classic short story ''Eight O'Clock in the Morning'' had monsters who could only be seen after awakening from hypnosis. It was adapted into the SoBadItsGood movie ''They Live'', where the monsters can only be seen by wearing special sunglasses.

This trope does not include cases where the ability to see the creatures is [[InvisibleToNormals granted by magic or psychic powers, etc]]. Anyone in the appropriate demographic, no matter how [[{{Muggle}} normal otherwise]], can perceive the creature just as easily. In some cases, the creatures can appear as people but the people possessing that trait can see them as [[GlamourFailure what they really are]].

'''Elena:''' Huh? Bombo, I... I can see you! The Bobaks, Bursties, Snyakutz Bu, I can see all of you!

** Death can be seen by animals, witches and wizards, and small children. And people about to die or who are having a near-death experience. In brief, anybody whose WeirdnessCensor is off. ...And Carrot, who used him as a witness for a murder in the short story 'Theatre of Cruelty'. The book ''Discworld/WyrdSisters'' states that Death can also be seen if people truly expect to see him (which may explain Carrot's ability to use him as a witness). In ''Wyrd Sisters'', Death walks on stage during a play at a time when the audience expects an actor playing Death to show up -- and is seen by everyone in the audience. And gets stage fright.

* On ''Series/{{Lost}}'', Hurley, who is GenreSavvy, theorizes that only he, Locke, and Ben can see Jacob's cabin because they are the craziest ones.

* Alan Dean Foster's ''Into The Out Of'' features three characters who are the only ones who can see the supernatural creatures infiltrating the world in order to destroy it. For two of them, it's a ''literal'' case of ByTheEyesOfTheBlind, as both of them have lost an eye and can see the creatures with their ''glass'' eye. The third has a ThirdEye.'

* Thestrals in ''Literature/HarryPotter'' can only be seen by those who have witnessed someone die. Harry joins this group in the fifth book after he comes to terms with being there at Cedric's murder. It comes as a bit of a shock when he arrives at Hogwarts and sees that the "horseless" carriages are actually pulled by skeletal, reptile-faced, winged horses.

* ''[[Literature/NightmaresAndDreamscapes The Ten O'Clock People]]'', by Creator/StephenKing, had monsters that appeared as human but could only be identified by people who smoke a certain amount (roughly a couple a day, but not heavily).

* The classic short story ''Eight O'Clock in the Morning'' had monsters who could only be seen after awakening from hypnosis. It was adapted into the SoBadItsGood movie ''They Live'', where the monsters can only be seen by wearing special sunglasses.

* Central to Creator/TheodoreSturgeon's classic novella, "The [Widget], The [Wadget], and Boff".

* The Spectres in ''HisDarkMaterials'' can only be seen by children, but feed on the minds/souls of adults.
* In Gustave Le Rouge's ''La Guerre des Vampires'', Martians can only be seen by blind people (or by someone who's wearing a special Martian helmet).
* In the ''Franchise/StarWars'' novel ''Dark Apprentice'', [[spoiler: Luke Skywalker]]'s Force ghost can be seen only by the Solo twins, Jacen and Jaina. Although they see him through the Force, the trope still applies since the other Jedi were unable to detect him.
* In ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Myth-ion Improbable]]'', the lurking dust bunnies of the Vortex dimensions are invisible to guys. Of course.
* How the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' learn about the existence of the Chee, a race of androids living among humans through the use of holograms: in dog morph, Marco notes that Eric has no smell (though he was carrying smells picked up from touching other people), but because dogs have mammalian eyes, he still looked normal. It takes a spider morph, with completely different eyes, to reveal the machine under the hologram.
* ''StarTrekNewFrontier'', "Gods Above": No one but Moke can see Woden and an [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascended McHenry]] at first, but that's because 1. [[spoiler:Moke is Woden's son]]; 2. Woden's enemies are keeping them concealed, and 3. They don't see them because [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve they don't believe they're there]].
* Inverted in FredricBrown's ''MartiansGoHome''. The Martians are real, and everyone on earth can see them -- in fact, it's impossible not to -- except for one guy, thanks to a Martian-caused nervous breakdown.
* In ''Literature/TheLastUnicorn'', normal humans can't see the titular unicorn (or unicorns in general). All they will see is a white mare at best. It is implied that only some humans who deeply believe in their existence, such as Molly, or being possessing magic, such as Schmendrick and the witch who captures her early in the movie, can see her who what she truly is. Said witch had to create on her a ''fake'' horn in order to make people believe she was a true unicorn, since they can't see her real horn. Haggard himself can see through her human disguise because, as he puts it, everything in her behaviour betrays her real nature. Finally, the skull saw right through her disguise.
* Alan Dean Foster's ''Into The Out Of'' features three characters who are the only ones who can see the supernatural creatures infiltrating the world in order to destroy it. For two of them, it's a ''literal'' case of ByTheEyesOfTheBlind, as both of them have lost an eye and can see the creatures with their ''glass'' eye. The third has a ThirdEye.'
* Faeries in ''Literature/TheSpiderwickChronicles'' can only be seen by people with the Sight. If you don't have it, you can get it by rubbing faerie ointment, faerie bathing water, or hobgoblin saliva in your eyes, or by carrying a FourLeafClover or a seeing stone.
* ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' inverts this in the latter books. [[Literature/GodEmperorOfDune Siona]] and [[Literature/HereticsOfDune her descendants]] are invisible to prescience. This is important both to humanity's survival so no one threat can target all of humanity ever again, but it is the only thing that saves [[Literature/ChapterhouseDune Chapterhouse planet]] from destruction by the Honored Matres.

* The gods of ''AMomentOfPeace'' are invisible to the stick figure humans they walk among, but apparently Monster Food, limbless worm-like creatures hanging from the very bottom of the food chain, can see them. Or at least [[http://www.amomentofpeace.net/comic.php?num=113 this one]] can.

* In DoctorLautrec, only Sophie can see the spirits in Treasure Animatus.

->'''Greta''': As a Keeper, I have the gift of Sight. I can pass this into few chosen people, and you, Elena, are one of them.
->'''Bombo''': Hi, Elena!
->'''Elena''': Huh? Bombo, I... I can see you! The Bobaks, Bursties, Snyakutz Bu, I can see all of you!
--> -- ''MonsterAllergy'', ''The Devourer''

* In ''Series/BeingHuman'', only people who are somehow supernatural (including vampires, werewolves, and zombies) can see ghosts.

* In ''BlueDrop'', Mari is the only one who can see the holographic projection of Tsubael, the [[BridgeBunnies bridge bunny]] from Hagino's spaceship, Blue. It is hinted that Michiko can see her as well.

* In ''FightIppatsuJuudenChan'', Charger Girls use a cloaking system to hide themselves from the populace of Earth (normally, they're transparent, but can still be seen), and while cloaked, can only be seen or touched by other people from Life Core. And Sento, for some reason. Sento's ability to see and touch them is never explained in the anime, but [[spoiler: he does briefly lose the ability to do so while depressed.]]

* In the James Stewart movie ''Theatre/{{Harvey}}'', Harvey is a pooka, a fairy spirit who appears to Stewart's character as a six-foot white rabbit, but who is invisible to others. Naturally, everyone else thinks Stewart is insane. One character bothers (named Wilson) to look up "pooka" in a dictionary and reads the definition, "a fairy spirit in animal form. ... very fond of rumpots, crackpots, and how are you today Mr. Wilson?" He's very upset.

* In the James Stewart movie ''Theatre{{Harvey}}'', Harvey is a pooka, a fairy spirit who appears to Stewart's character as a six-foot white rabbit, but who is invisible to others. Naturally, everyone else thinks Stewart is insane. One character bothers (named Wilson) to look up "pooka" in a dictionary and reads the definition, "a fairy spirit in animal form. ... very fond of rumpots, crackpots, and how are you today Mr. Wilson?" He's very upset.