The headline is inaccurate. If you do not have microsaccades you do not "go blind." If you stare at the exact same spot without flinching your eyes adapt the the image projected on the retina and the image fades away until you move your eyes again. Adaptation in vision is completely different from going blind and it is actually a good thing. For example, if something obstructs your vision permanantly your brain learns to ignore it (all of the senses work this way.) Adaptation and microsaccades check and balance each other.

Also, this is old news. I learned this when I was still in school so I don't understand how "new research" has uncovered this.