Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-2165692-20140425203121/@comment-17114085-20140825025317

It doesn't matter what the game mechanics make it seem like, the Falmer are blind. Lore clearly states them to be. In-game characters confirm the lore, and so they are blind.

Gelebor, the Snow-Elf, even says so:

"...Surprisingly, they agreed to protect us but demanded a terrible price... the blinding of our race..."

"...The blinding of my race was supposedly accomplished with a toxin..."

He should know, he is a Snow Elf and has encountered 'the Betrayed' on many occasions.