You might have seen night vision optics in movies, several times, without realising what they are. We have usually seen spies use special glass during the night time to spy around in the dark. These glasses are also used by soldiers and navy forces and pilots too. These are better known as night vision optics or night vision goggles or as night vision monoculars as well.

Night vision optics are famous as “Electronic eyes” too as they boost the eyesight and make the vision sharper and powerful. But how do these goggles work? How are they able to sharpen the eye vision multiple times? Well, we are about to unveil the reality of it.

How do night vision optics work?

To begin with, there are two technologies in night vision optics that one must know about as their functionality changes accordingly. Thus the answer to how night vision optics work, depends upon which of the two, you are utilising.

• Thermal Imaging
• Image enhancement

With the image enhancement night vision optics, the existing light is enhanced. Even when there are no stars in the sky and it is pitch dark, there is light travelling around which is not viewable by the human eye. The goggles basically collected all the existing light and amplified it to make everything visible in the dark.

On the other hand, the thermal imaging goggles are connected with heat (as the name suggests). Every hot object emits heat. Likewise, the human body also emits heat in the form of infrared light. The thermal imaging technology captures that infrared light and creates visibility in the dark as well. The issue with thermal imaging night vision monoculars is that the image created in the dark, will depend on the amount of heat being emitted by the objects in the surroundings. If there isn’t much heat, the vision might be a little blurry.

What color do night vision goggles produce?

Night vision goggles do not produce white images in the dark. They reproduce the light in green color as the human eye is more sensitive to it and is able to catch the image instantly. Thus, they produce a glowy green colored image in the dark.

Who uses night vision optics?

Night vision optics is extremely beneficial for military purposes and in the field of law enforcement as well. As it helps soldiers and other forces find their enemies in the dark and stay aware of the danger ahead. As the human eye cannot view in pitch dark, these goggles are the biggest assets for the armies and navy forces and spies etc. Many people use it for hunting purposes as well. However, as hunting is now prohibited in several countries, there might be some obligation to use night vision optics for hunting. 

There is a lot of speculation regarding whether night vision optics can be used by civilians or not. It is best to check in with your state laws for this.