4,023. Blemishes of the Eyelid and of the Eye

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 7:4

Three blemishes are of the eyelid: (1) if they’re punctured in any amount; (2) if they’re cracked in any amount; (3) if they’re damaged in any amount. These blemishes are included in the Torah’s term charutz (Leviticus 22:22).

Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 7:5

Eight blemishes are of the eye: (1) being blind in one or both eyes; (2) inability to see from both or one eye, even though there’s no visible change to the eye(s), because he always has water falling into his eyes; (3) inability to see clearly with both or one eye because of nerve damage; (4) a grape-like protrusion in the eye, even though it doesn’t affect his vision; (5) cataracts that cover part of the pupil; (6) if the sclera (the white part of the eye) extends into the pupil. This is called term t’valul in Leviticus 21:20. If the pupil extends into the sclera, it’s not a blemish, there being no blemishes in the sclera; (7) a white dot in the middle of the pupil. This is called dak in the Torah (ibid.). This is if it appears to be floating on the pupil; if it’s not, or if it’s sunken into the pupil, it’s not a blemish. Similarly, if there’s a black dot in the middle of the sclera, it’s not a blemish even if it appears to be floating because, as stated, there are no blemishes in the sclera; (8) a black dot sunken in the pupil is also considered dak, but if it seems like it’s floating, it’s not a blemish because it’s black on black.