Stereo Vision or stereopsis is also referred to as 3D vision. Stereopsis, from stereo meaning solidity, and opsis meaning vision or sight, describes the sensation of depth attained from the successful merging of the two slightly different pictures seen in each eye into one 3D image. The condition of stereo blindness occurs when two eyes do not work together to create one 3D image.
Patients with stereo blindness require optometric vision therapy, including the use of prisms and 3D glasses. Treatment duration will depend upon the particular patient's condition and associated factors.
Locate a Doctor in your area who is experienced and knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating 3D vision problems.
Did you know that not being able to see a 3D image can affect much more than your ability to enjoy a three-dimensional movie? Did you know that you need for your eyes to work together as a team in order to see 3D? Here’s Eli's story of how his lack of eye teaming affected his ability to read and play baseball, and how with optometric vision therapy he was able use stereo vision in a whole new way.
Read Eli's Story - Improving Stereo Vision
Dr. Susan R. Barry is a professor of neurobiology in the Department of Biological Sciences at Mount Holyoke College and the author of Fixing My Gaze.
Dr. Barry was cross-eyed as a baby, but three childhood surgeries made her eyes look straight. Her doctors thought she would never gain stereo vision - the ability to see in three dimensions. Then, at age 48, Dr. Barry consulted a developmental optometrist who prescribed a program of optometric vision therapy, which taught her to see in stereo.
Dr. Barry was featured in an article in The New Yorker by neurologist, Oliver Sacks, MD in June, 2006. Sue's story was featured in the COVD journal, Optometry & Vision Development (OVD), in which she wrote an editorial about her experience.
Read "Stereo Views" by Dr. Sue Barry
Read Stereo Sue(lutions)! by Dr. Dominick Maino, editor, OVD
Read Oliver Sacks, A Neurologist's Notebook, “Stereo Sue,” The New Yorker
NPR's Joe Palca was born with a crossed eye. His young brain learned to turn off the input from his turned in eye, unfortunately leaving Joe with no 3D vision. Joe met with optometrists at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was diagnosed by Dr. Dennis Levi as stereo blind. Joe contacted Dr. Sue Barry, who also had amblyopia as a child that caused her stereo blindness. Now he is working to gain stereo vision, and teaching his old brain new and better ways to see.
Read and listen to the NPR story on Joe Palca
Locate a Doctor in your area who is experienced and knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating 3D vision problems.