Final answer:
In instances where vision is restored to individuals blind from birth, they can sense colors but often struggle with recognizing objects by sight, as their brains have not learned to interpret visual signals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question raises the issue of how individuals who have been blind since birth cope with the new experience of sight after their vision is surgically restored. They can perceive colors but have trouble recognizing objects by sight. This difficulty arises because while their eyes are able to detect light and identify colors, the brain has not learned to process and interpret these visual cues into recognizable shapes or objects. Unlike tasks such as distinguishing figure from ground, or recognizing bright versus dim light which are more innate, the ability to recognize objects visually requires learning and experience that integrates visual and tactile signals over time.
Sight is not only about the eyes detecting light to form images; the brain must also interpret these images to make sense of what is being seen. This interpretation relies on a combination of visual information and previous sensory experiences. Thus, someone seeing for the first time will not have the frame of reference that people with lifelong vision have built. For example, the concept of color constancy allows individuals with established visual perception to recognize that a white tablecloth is white in different lighting conditions. However, without prior visual experience, newly sighted individuals may not immediately comprehend such nuances.
The integration of vision and the brain's interpretation is a complex process, and can be exemplified by the challenge faced by individuals with prosopagnosia, a condition where people have difficulty recognizing faces. This shows how specialized and refined visual perception and interpretation can become, and why those gaining sight later in life may face significant challenges.