3D VISION – STEREOPSIS

See the world in 3D! What is stereopsis?

Have you ever put on those special glasses to watch a 3D movie and felt as if things were jumping out of the screen? Well, that's similar to what our brains do all the time, without glasses. We call this incredible ability to perceive the world in three dimensions, to mentally calculate distances, and to know exactly where objects are in space 3D vision , or stereopsis ! It's like having a built-in "radar" that gives us a sense of depth!

“It’s a spectacular team effort between our two eyes and our brain.”

Each of our eyes captures a slightly different image of the same object. It's as if each eye had its own camera, taking a photo from a slightly different angle. Then the brain puts those two images together like pieces of a three-dimensional puzzle. And by merging them, it creates that sense of depth, that 3D vision that lets us know whether something is near or far. It's as if the brain were a film director creating a relief film from two slightly different shots.

Watch out! When one eye isn't working... 3D vision disappears!

Sometimes one of our eyes can't send an image of sufficient quality for the brain to use. It's as if one of the "cameras" is out of focus or malfunctioning. In these cases, the brain can't properly merge those two images, and 3D vision doesn't occur! It's as if the 3D movie appears flat and dull.

Strabismus and lazy eye, the "enemies" of 3D vision!

This is what happens in the case of strabismus (when the eyes do not look in the same place) or amblyopia , also known as lazy eye (when one eye has not developed good visual acuity).
• Strabismus : Remember when we talked about how strabismus affects the eyes? Well, if the eyes aren't pointing in the same direction, they capture very different images of the world. It's as if each "camera" were recording a different scene. The brain has a hard time merging these disparate images, and 3D vision is lost!
• Lazy eye : In lazy eye, even though the eyes may be aligned, one of them doesn't see as clearly as the other. It's as if one of the "cameras" were out of focus. If the brain doesn't receive a clear image from one of the eyes, it has a hard time combining it with the sharp image from the other to create a sense of depth. The result is that the person is unable to see the world in relief in their everyday life. It's as if the world were a flat photograph!

So, whether your eyes are misaligned or you have poor vision, the wonderful ability to see in 3D can be affected! It's one of the many reasons why it's so important to take care of our eye health and ensure they work together well!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about 3D Vision (Stereopsis)

1. What is 3D vision or stereopsis? It's the brain's ability to combine the slightly different images it receives from each eye, creating depth perception and allowing us to see the world in three dimensions.
2. How does 3D vision work? Each eye sees the world from a slightly different angle. The brain receives these two images and merges them, using the difference between them (binocular disparity) to calculate the distance and depth of objects.
3. What if I don't have good 3D vision? If you don't have good 3D vision, you may have difficulty accurately judging distances, perceiving depth, and performing activities that require this skill, such as parking a car or playing some sports.
4. How does strabismus affect 3D vision? In strabismus, the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions, capturing different images. The brain has difficulty merging these images, which prevents the development or presence of good 3D vision.
5. How does amblyopia, or lazy eye, affect 3D vision? In amblyopia, one eye hasn't developed good visual acuity. If the brain doesn't receive a clear image from one eye, it has difficulty combining it with the image from the other to create a sense of depth, affecting 3D vision.
6. Can 3D vision be improved? In some cases, especially in children with strabismus or amblyopia, vision therapy can help improve eye alignment and the brain's ability to fuse images, which can lead to improved 3D vision.
7. Is it necessary to have perfect vision in both eyes to have 3D vision? Not necessarily perfect, but similar visual acuity and good eye alignment are important for the brain to receive and merge quality images for 3D vision.
8. How is 3D vision assessed? Optometrists use special tests with stereoscopic images (images designed to be seen slightly differently by each eye) to evaluate a person's ability to perceive depth.
9. What daily living activities can be affected by poor 3D vision? Activities such as driving, parking, climbing stairs, playing sports (especially those that involve quickly judging distances), reaching for objects, and some manual tasks can be more difficult without good 3D vision.
10. What should I do if I think I have problems with my 3D vision? It's recommended that you consult an optometrist for a complete evaluation of your binocular vision. They can determine if there is a problem and recommend appropriate treatment or therapy options.