Learning About Your Blind Spots

Many patients have questions for their Miami optometrist when they come in for their annual visit. One of the most common questions people have is about their natural blind spots. Some people may have heard that they have a blind spot in each of their eyes, and this is true. There is a natural blind spot where the optic nerve connects to the retina, which is the part of the eye that detects light. However, people do not notice their natural blind spot because it is different in each eye and the brain is able to overlap the images to make it appear as if the blind spot is nonexistent. This is why many Miami eye doctors will tell their patients not to worry about this aspect of their vision.

How to Find Your Blind Spots

If you have been wondering just where your blind spot is located, there is a way you can find this out. Your eye doctor in Miami Beach can run specific tests to figure out just where it is on your retina, but you can also locate it on your own. Here are the steps to locating your particular blind spots:

● Get a piece of paper and write an X and an O on it, about 5.5 inches away from each other.

● Cover your right eye.

● Move the paper about 18 inches away from your eyes, and look at the O with your left eye.

● The X should disappear when doing this, which is where your natural blind spot is.

● This process can be repeated by covering the opposite eye and doing the same test.

Blind Spots Are Natural and Nothing to Worry About

So many people think that because they have blind spots, they are going to end up needing eyeglasses in Miami Beach. However, this is not true because every person has natural blind spots. What determines if someone needs glasses or not is the shape of their cornea, not the way their eyes detect light. The only time you need to be concerned about your natural blind spot is when it comes and goes, moves into your field of vision, has flashing lights associated with it, or anything else abnormal like this. For most people, they will never notice that they have a blind spot at all. However, if you have become aware of yours because of an issue like this, then you need to make an appointment with your eye doctor right away. They will be able to run tests and figure out what the cause of your issue is, and also come up with ways to treat it.