How to Determine Your Dominant Eye
Try a simple pointing test., Conduct the Distance-Hole-In-The-Card test., Do the Near-Hole-In-The-Card test., Do the convergence test.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Try a simple pointing test.
With both eyes open, point your finger at a distant object.
Close one eye, then switch and close the other eye.
Your finger should appear to move off or away from the object when one eye is closed.
If the finger does not appear to move, then the eye you closed is your nondominant eye.Another variation of this test is to stretch your arms out in front of you and form a triangular-shaped hole with your fingers.
Look through this hole at an object about 10 feet (3 m) away, keeping both eyes open.
Without moving, close one eye, then the other.
The object should appear to move, possibly out of the triangular window, when you close one of your eyes.
If it moves, then you are looking through your nondominant eye. -
Step 2: Conduct the Distance-Hole-In-The-Card test.
This test examines which eye you use to focus on objects that are 10 feet away.
You can easily perform it on yourself at home.Cut a hole in a piece of paper that is about an inch and a half in diameter.
On a second piece of paper write a single letter so that it is roughly one inch high.
Tape or tack the paper with the letter onto a wall at eye level.
Measure a distance of exactly 10 feet away.
Stand 10 feet away from the letter on the wall.
Hold the paper with the hole in it at arm’s length with both hands.
Your arms should be parallel to the floor.
Look through the hole in the paper at the letter in the wall.
When you can see the letter, have a friend cover first one eye, then the other.
Don’t move or adjust your position.
The eye that can see the letter is your dominant eye.
If you can see it with both eyes, then neither eye is dominant in this task. , This test is similar to the distance test, but it examines which eye you use when focusing up close.
You can also do it with quickly and easily with household objects.This test can be done using a thimble, shot glass, or similar household object.
Write a single letter on a piece of paper so that it is about 1/16th of an inch tall and wide.
Tape this letter to the bottom of the inside of the thimble or shot glass.
Cover the thimble or shot glass with paper or aluminum foil.
Fix it in place with a rubber band or tape.
Make a small hole that is about 1/16th of an inch in the paper or foil.
The hole should be over the letter so that you can see the letter when looking through the hole.
Put the thimble or shot glass on a table and lean over so that you can read the letter.
Do not touch the thimble/shot glass or press your eye to the opening.
Your head should be about 1 to 2 feet away.
Don’t move your head while you look at the letter.
Have a friend cover one eye, then the other.
The eye that can see the letter is your dominant eye.
If you can see the letter with both eyes when the other is covered, you don’t have a dominant eye for this test. , This test examines which eye is dominant at extremely close distances.
The results may differ from the results on the other tests.Get a ruler.
Write a single letter on a piece of paper.
The letter should be about 1/16th of an inch high and wide.
Tape the letter to the ruler so that it doesn’t move.
Hold the ruler out in front of you with both hands.
The letter should be at eye level.
Focus on the letter.
Slowly, with both hands, move the ruler straight towards your nose.
Stop moving when one eye is no longer able to focus on the letter.
That is the nondominant eye in this task.
If both eyes remain focused until the ruler touches your nose, then neither eye is dominant in this task. -
Step 3: Do the Near-Hole-In-The-Card test.
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Step 4: Do the convergence test.
Detailed Guide
With both eyes open, point your finger at a distant object.
Close one eye, then switch and close the other eye.
Your finger should appear to move off or away from the object when one eye is closed.
If the finger does not appear to move, then the eye you closed is your nondominant eye.Another variation of this test is to stretch your arms out in front of you and form a triangular-shaped hole with your fingers.
Look through this hole at an object about 10 feet (3 m) away, keeping both eyes open.
Without moving, close one eye, then the other.
The object should appear to move, possibly out of the triangular window, when you close one of your eyes.
If it moves, then you are looking through your nondominant eye.
This test examines which eye you use to focus on objects that are 10 feet away.
You can easily perform it on yourself at home.Cut a hole in a piece of paper that is about an inch and a half in diameter.
On a second piece of paper write a single letter so that it is roughly one inch high.
Tape or tack the paper with the letter onto a wall at eye level.
Measure a distance of exactly 10 feet away.
Stand 10 feet away from the letter on the wall.
Hold the paper with the hole in it at arm’s length with both hands.
Your arms should be parallel to the floor.
Look through the hole in the paper at the letter in the wall.
When you can see the letter, have a friend cover first one eye, then the other.
Don’t move or adjust your position.
The eye that can see the letter is your dominant eye.
If you can see it with both eyes, then neither eye is dominant in this task. , This test is similar to the distance test, but it examines which eye you use when focusing up close.
You can also do it with quickly and easily with household objects.This test can be done using a thimble, shot glass, or similar household object.
Write a single letter on a piece of paper so that it is about 1/16th of an inch tall and wide.
Tape this letter to the bottom of the inside of the thimble or shot glass.
Cover the thimble or shot glass with paper or aluminum foil.
Fix it in place with a rubber band or tape.
Make a small hole that is about 1/16th of an inch in the paper or foil.
The hole should be over the letter so that you can see the letter when looking through the hole.
Put the thimble or shot glass on a table and lean over so that you can read the letter.
Do not touch the thimble/shot glass or press your eye to the opening.
Your head should be about 1 to 2 feet away.
Don’t move your head while you look at the letter.
Have a friend cover one eye, then the other.
The eye that can see the letter is your dominant eye.
If you can see the letter with both eyes when the other is covered, you don’t have a dominant eye for this test. , This test examines which eye is dominant at extremely close distances.
The results may differ from the results on the other tests.Get a ruler.
Write a single letter on a piece of paper.
The letter should be about 1/16th of an inch high and wide.
Tape the letter to the ruler so that it doesn’t move.
Hold the ruler out in front of you with both hands.
The letter should be at eye level.
Focus on the letter.
Slowly, with both hands, move the ruler straight towards your nose.
Stop moving when one eye is no longer able to focus on the letter.
That is the nondominant eye in this task.
If both eyes remain focused until the ruler touches your nose, then neither eye is dominant in this task.
About the Author
Ryan Anderson
Experienced content creator specializing in practical skills guides and tutorials.
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