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... n of measurement. The blind spot mapping technique was described in Hall, 2003. It may be noted that ophthalmologists have a more precise technique for blind spot mapping, but that technique requires a completed degree in ophthalmology and requires very expensive equipment. This technology was not available for purposes of this study. The technique used was simplistic in design, yet accurate enough to obtain meaningful results.
Test subjects for this study were recruited from senior members of the varsity football team and persons in the general campus population. Senior members of the varsity football team were used due to the assumption that they would be the most likely to adhere to the rules of good nutrition, exercise and general health that were required for dependent variable of this study. The control group consisted of ten general population students, who were screened by asking them if they were involved in regular exercise activity. Test subjects for the control groups were chosen who did not participate in exercise programs. An apparatus of measurement was devised. The blind spot can be visualized in the following manner.
The set of spots in Appendix I can be used to find the blind spot for the right and left eye. The test was set up as in APPENDIX II with the subject sitting at a table. A box was used to rest the chin, so as to maintain a steady height. The subject was instructed to place his chin on the box and look at the screen. They were instructed to keep their head a still as possible once the test has begun. One set of dots was cut out and mounted in a piece of poster board.
An identical set of dots was made for each eye. This was mounted to a board that could be moved closer and farther from the subject until the proper distance for that blind spot could be located for each subject. This was necessary, as everyone's blind spot would be in a different place. The subject was told to sit on the chair and place their chin on the box and to stay as still as possible. They were told to cover the right eye and fixate on the cross, appropriate for that eye. They were not to move their head, just fixate using their eyes.
An assistant would slowly move the screen farther away or closer to the subject until the subject indicated that the large dot had disappeared and the ground appeared solid white. This is where the blind spot is located. As assistant moved a sharpened pencil horizontally in front of the paper until the tip of the pen disappeared from the subject (was in the blind spot). The assistant then moved the pen horizontally across until the tip reappeared. The subject would indicate that the tip had reappeared and the assistant would mark a dot at the point of reappearance. This process was repeated in a pattern of compass points, starting from the blind spot each time.
This process was repeated for the other eye using the appropriate image. This created a picture of the blind spot and the area of the blind spot could be calculated in centimeters. An example of the test results can be found in APPENDIX III. Results When the tests were completed, the average radius of the blind spots was estimated using a compass. The radius of the circle was taken as an average of the points from the center. The following raw results were found for the two groups.
Results expressed in r-values of the circles. The difference between the means is 0. 15. A p value of a one-tailed z-test was set at 0. 5 (95 % confidence) with a critical value of 1. 65. The z value for these two groups was 1. This would indicate a statistically significant test result and did indicate that the blind spot radius of athletes if significantly smaller than that of non-athletes. Discussion The results for this research indicate a significant difference in the radius of the blind spot between athletes and non athletes.
This would tend to support the hypothesis that athletes have smaller blind spots than non-athletes do. It can then be theorized that these differences are due to better eye health. However, before we draw this conclusion it must be noted that the sample size in this research was extremely small for this type of study. Different results may be obtained from a larger sample size.
In addition, subjects were not screened for diet, exercise, and general health. Caution must be taken in drawing broad conclusions from this research due to these factors. However, the results will be helpful in further research design. Further research should be done on the subject. A screening survey of the subjects would be helpful in isolating the dependent and independent variables. This survey would include questions on diet exercise and general health.
There are several factors that may explain the results obtained. Cai and Cavanagh (2002) found that a condition called acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement syndrome (AIBSE) would cause a similar result in these patients. A swelling in the optic disc from infection can also cause an enlarged blind spot (Fletcher, 1988). A fungus called Histoplasma capsulatus causes scarring to the retina and can cause an enlarged blind spot. However, this is an unlikely cause as one must be exposed to large amounts of bird droppings to contract it (Windsor and Windsor, 2003).
In order for future tests to be more conclusive, these conditions must be ruled out as a cause. In conclusion, the results of this research support the hypothesis that athletes have a smaller blind spot than non-athletes do. Although this may lead us to the conclusion that this is due to better diet and general health. This conclusion must be taken with caution.
Due to the small sample size and failure to eliminate certain confounding variables, this conclusion must be made in a guarded fashion. This research will prove useful in the conduct of future research design. It was helpful in designing a simple and effective instrument of the measurement of this phenomenon. Future research should expand on these results and attempt to account for variables that were beyond the scope of this project. Works Cited Ballantyne, R.
About that Squinty Eye. [Online] web resume/Squinty. html accessed March 2003. Cai, R. H. , & Cavanagh, P. (2002).
Motion interpolation of a unique feature into stimulus gaps and blind spots Journal of Vision, 2 (7), 30 a, web accessed March, 2003. Fletcher WA, Imes RK, Goodman D, Hoyt WF. Acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement: a big blind spot syndrome without optic disc edema. Arch Ophthalmol. 1988; 106: 44 - 49. Hall, H. Blind Spot Mapping.
Chiro base. org. March 2, 2003. [Online] web March 2003. Lou, L. and Chen, J. Attention and Blind Spot Phenomenology.
January, 2003. Psyche 9 (02). [Online] web accessed March, 2003. Second, J. and Kick, F. Eye-Savvy Eating. Science News.
August, 1998. [Online] web arc 98 / 8 15 98 /food. htm accessed March, 2003. Windsor, R. and Windsor, L. Common Visual Problems of Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome. Vision World Wide. 2002. [Online] web histoplasmosis.
htm March, 2003.
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Research essay sample on Blind Spot Enlargement In Non Athletes
