blind spot

The blind spot is an area in your vision where you can’t see.  Every eye has a small blind spot. This is due to where the optic nerve enters the back of the eye.  At this insertion site, there are no retinal photoreceptors, so we don’t detect light hitting this area of the retina. Fortunately, the blind spot doesn’t cause problems because our other eye is able to cover this area and our brain has learned to ignore the discrepancy. Certain eye problems like glaucoma can enlarge the blind spot.  You can detect your own blind spot … try covering your left eye and hold up your right thumb at arms distance.   Keep staring straight ahead, but slowly move your right arm outwards.  When you are about 15 degrees out, the top of your thumb will disappear.  Congratulations! You’ve found your “B-Spot!”