What is Binocular Vision?

What is Binocular Vision?
BINOCULAR: Of or involving both eyes at once.

BINOCULAR VISION: Vision wherein both eyes aim simultaneously at the same visual target; vision wherein both eyes work together -- simultaneously, equally and accurately -- as a coordinated team.

Healthy binocular vision produces important visual perceptual skills which are part of normal human vision: binocular depth perception and stereopsis.

STEREOPSIS: (stereopsis or stereoscopic vision) vision wherein two separate images from two eyes are successfully combined into one image in the brain.

Stereopsis is an aspect of "normal" healthy vision. Here's how it works. First, both eyes must be accurately aimed at the same target (that's binocular vision, but it's not yet stereoscopic vision!) Then, because the two eyes are located in different positions, each takes in a unique view from its own perspective. The two separate images are sent on to the brain for processing. When the two images arrive simultaneously in the back of the brain they are united into one picture. The combined picture appears three-dimensional (3-D) because it has the added depth dimension. That's stereo vision. Stereo vision gives you depth perception.