page_title: Blindfold
section_title: Applications
hierarchical_section_title: Blindfold / Applications
caption_attribution_description: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Military spouses enhance communication skills by conducting an exercise involving finding objects in a room while blindfolded as part of an "In the Midst" workshop sponsored by Marine Corps Family Team building.
context_page_description: A blindfold is a garment, usually of cloth, tied to one's head to cover the eyes to disable the wearer's sight. While a properly fitted blindfold prevents sight even if the eyes are open, a poorly tied or trick blindfold may let the wearer see around or even through the blindfold.
context_section_description: Blindfolds can be used in various applications:
  As a sleep mask: They block out light when sleeping, especially during air travel, or for those who sleep during the day, given that shutting out light allows the user to achieve a deeper level of sleep. They can also provide relief from claustrophobia for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patients. People with glaucoma should avoid using these.
  In children's games, such as Pin the Tail on the Donkey and when hitting a piñata.
  During both martial arts and weight lifting, to encourage reliance on other senses, such as touch or hearing.
  As a sensory deprivation tool in meditation, to focus attention on oneself rather than outside imagery.
  As a way to keep a kidnapping victim, hostage, prisoner, etc., from being able to identify locations or people.
  To cover the eyes of a blind person for health or cosmetic reasons.  (Since the invention of sunglasses, this is much less common.)
  As a prop in magic tricks.  One common trick involves a blindfolded performer doing a task that requires vision, such as driving.
  As an aid to simulate blindness during training of Orientation and Mobility Specialists, so that they develop empathetic understanding of blindness and learn how to rely on their other senses to get to know the environment and move around freely and independently.
  During executions, to relax and calm the accused will be unable to see their execution and thus less likely to panic.
  Sexual activity may include blindfolding. They can be constructed with feathers and sold with handcuffs in novelty "bondage kits". Many impromptu items already found in the bedroom lend themselves to such use without preparation or prior purchase of specialized equipment.
  Use of a blindfold is said to enhance the remaining senses of the wearer, focusing attention on sound, smells and physical contact. This increased awareness is said to allow for greater excitement and anticipation by eliminating visual cues, as one cannot see what to expect. It also requires trust of the submissive, with all the emotional ramifications that entails.
caption: A blindfolded woman
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