The human eye is an incredibly complex organ, and depth perception is just one of several crucial functions needed for vision. According to the staff at Ala Moana Eyecare Associates in Honolulu, HI, it’s important to understand how depth perception works. Poor depth perception can cause issues with your vision that may require a visit to the eye doctor.

Depth perception is the basis on which the two eyes work together — called binocular vision — to judge distance. When working together, they allow you to see in three dimensions, which in turn allows for spatial assessment. This is accomplished two ways: disparity and convergence.

Disparity is how each eye sees the same image slightly differently. This is because of the distance between them. As the images are received, the brain combines each to make a single image. The further apart the eyes are, the greater depth of field you’ll have, which is why many predators have their eyes set farther apart than humans do.

Convergence is used to judge shorter distances. When looking at an object up close, the eyes move inward toward one another. The muscle usage lets the brain know that the eyes are attempting to judge the distance of something near and that reception needs to adjust so that distance can be judged.

Eyes use several other factors to help judge depth, such as interposition, motion, and color. When objects overlap, it’s easy to tell which is farther away. When light, color, and reflection enter the equation, they can also be used to judge distance more accurately. A crisp outline indicates closeness, while blurriness means something is far away. Speed also dictates distance, as objects move at different speeds visually based on their distance.

Depth perception is crucial for effective vision, so turn to the eye doctors at Ala Moana Eyecare Associates for regular eye tests. They offer a variety of eyeglasses and corrective solutions that will get you back to seeing the world clearly. Call (808) 946-3937 today to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor and visit their website to learn more about their services.