[falsedan]

You have eyes + aren't active while finding food/avoiding predators in an environment with limited visibility & great sound conduction.

[ewyueywu]

alright, what about nocturnal animals with huge sensitive eyes ? or why not evolve searchlights or even lasers ?

[Someone]

If you are a predator and carry a search light, chances are your prey will learn what your search light means. If you are prey, would you think it is a good idea to advertise "there's something to eat over here"?

[falsedan]

  > searchlights or even lasers

Think about the return on investment on these: how much energy to grow and power vs. the improved food gathering. Also: would this make the creatures easier to find by predators?

Galagos developed large eyes rather than sonar, true. I refer you to my other comment:

  > Perhaps eyes convey a general advantage, regardless of how you find food?

[logicallee]

I think we can all agree that my point is made, and it's easy to imagine sentient extraterrestrials without photoreceptors.