Whereas any nearby sound tends to bombard us without our consent, we can consciously choose where we wish to look. Although we can choose the direction and the distance focus, whatever is in that direction we will see. Again, movement within the field of our vision tends to draw our attention. Eye movements are rather rapid and largely unconscious. Turning our head or body tends to be a more conscious decision.
Vision is rather sharp and detailed, and most problems with focus can now be corrected with lenses.
Most of our information about the world comes to us by means of our vision. Developing our powers of observation can greatly increase our awareness. Again, focusing our attention is a major factor in visual perception. Our eyes can be open, but we may not really see much at all. We can look without seeing, see without noticing, and notice without understanding.