You might sometimes notice a tiny blank space in your field of view while reading a book or looking across a bright room. This small empty patch occurs naturally in every human eye.
Your blind spot exists because your optic nerve covers a small part of the light-sensing cells in your retina. Most of the time, our brain and eyes work together to cover our blind spots up. However, if you start to see sudden dark patches on your vision, it might be worth paying a visit to our team at Total Vision Novato.
Key Takeaways
- Every person has a natural visual gap where the optic nerve meets the retina.
- Your brain fills in the missing details to create a seamless image.
- Some visual gaps happen because of medical conditions or headaches.
- Sudden dark shapes or blurry areas signal a need for an eye exam.
The Natural Blind Spot in Your Eye
Where the Optic Nerve Meets the Retina
The back of your eye contains a thin layer of light sensitive cells. These hardworking cells convert light into signals for the brain, so that we can see the world around us.
A bundle of fibers called the optic nerve connects your retina to your brain. This small structure obstructs a portion of your retina, creating a completely natural gap in your vision. Every human eye is designed this way!
How Your Brain & Eyes Work Together
Your Eyes As a Team
When our eyes and brain work in harmony, we very rarely even notice the empty patches in our vision. In fact, the blind spot in our left eye and the blind spot in our right eye are located in such a way that each eye can see what the other eye can’t.
The Brain As a Gap Filler
Your brain helps smooth out your field of view by taking visual clues from your surroundings to fill in the blanks. In other words, your mind constantly edits the pictures that you see in real time.
Other Types of Blind Spots
Gaps Caused by Medical Problems
In some cases, you might find that you see dark patches in your vision. These unexpected blind spots are caused by specific health conditions, and they may affect one or both of your eyes. Any kind of vision loss should be treated as an emergency, so if you experience this kind of issue, you should seek emergency medical care.
Migraines & Wavy Vision
Some people experience visual disruptions that look jagged or wavy. These wavy lines often occur before or during a strong headache. Some people describe the effect as resembling a shimmering pool of water on a hot paved road.
Migraine symptoms frequently include these kinds of temporary changes. Your vision typically returns to normal after your headache subsides.
Signs of a Vision Problem
Symptoms to Monitor
Pay close attention to sudden changes in your vision. The following are all serious symptoms for which you should seek immediate medical care:
- Sudden dark shapes that show up quickly and stay in your line of sight.
- Blurry areas in your vision
- Flashes of light, especially if they occur with other visual disruptions
When to See an Eye Doctor in Novato
The Value of Preventative Care
Regular exams help keep your eyes healthy. As your eye doctor in Novato, we track changes in your vision over time and look for early warning signs of disease. Early detection of possible issues helps protect your future vision from permanent damage.
Reach out to our team at Total Vision Novato today to schedule your next preventative visit.
