be blinded
眯 centers on the idea of something entering the eye and causing blindness or obscured vision. The single given meaning 'be blinded' is the core concept.
眯 combines 目 (eye) with 米 (rice), likely suggesting rice or a grain entering the eye and causing blindness. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Picture a grain of rice (米) flying into your eye (目) and blinding you. The eye is struck by rice, leaving you unable to see.
For ベイ, imagine being blinded by a sudden bright bay light: bay -> ベイ, and the glare hits your eye like a grain of rice.