Did you know that, just as we have a dominant hand, we also have a dominant eye? The dominant eye is the one our brain favours for processing visual information. It plays a key role in depth perception and hand-eye coordination. But how do you know which is your dominant eye, and why is it important?
How do you determine your dominant eye?
There are several simple methods for identifying your dominant eye. Here are two easy tests to try:
1. The hole-in-the-sheet test
Take a sheet of paper and punch a small hole in its center (about 1-2 cm in diameter).
Stretch out your arms and look at a distant object through the hole.
Close one eye, then the other. Your dominant eye is the one that can still see the object through the hole.
2. The hand triangle test
Form a triangle with your hands by joining your thumbs and forefingers.
Stretch out your arms and look at an object through the opening in the triangle.
Close one eye, then the other. The eye that keeps the object centred is your dominant eye.
Why is it important to know your dominant eye?
Sports and visual performance
Knowing your dominant eye helps improve precision and coordination in disciplines such as archery, sports shooting, and baseball.
Vision correction
For contact lens wearers or those considering refractive surgery, the dominant eye plays a role in determining the most appropriate correction, particularly in monovision (a technique in which one eye is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision).
Screen use and visual comfort
Some people may experience increased visual fatigue if their dominant eye is forced to compensate for a weakness in the other eye, mainly when using screens for prolonged periods.
In short, knowing your dominant eye can help you better understand your vision and optimize your visual comfort daily. So, which is yours? Take the test and find out!
