Blind spot

blind spot

The blind spot is a small area in each eye's visual field where no image is perceived because the optic nerve connects to the retina there and there are no light-sensitive cells. Every person has this normal blind spot, and the brain usually fills in the missing information so we are not aware of it. It sits slightly to the side of the center of vision in each eye, which is why the blind spots do not usually interfere with everyday sight — each eye compensates for the other's gap. Sometimes the blind spot can become larger or more obvious when there is swelling, pressure, or damage to the optic nerve, and that change is an important sign to get checked by a doctor. Other medical problems can create new areas of missing vision that are not the normal blind spot and may require prompt attention. People can do simple home checks or have formal visual field testing at an eye clinic to map any blind areas. Knowing about the blind spot matters because changes can point to conditions like optic nerve disease or increased eye pressure, and early care can prevent further harm. For daily life, small blind spot effects are usually unnoticed, but larger or new blind areas can interfere with reading, driving, and recognizing faces, so adaptation and treatment are important.