Two Seeing Eyes = Two Views!
Two Eyes' Views Used and Fused in the Brain = Stereovision!
What does it take to see life in 3D with depth perception...not to mention 3D movies or TV, virtual reality, 3-D stereograms, stereoscopic photographs, etc. etc.? Here, you can learn about an exciting part of normal human vision - stereovision (a.k.a., stereoscopic vision or stereopsis). For now, let's just keep things simple and call it stereovision.

Human Beings with Two Eyes that Work Together Have Stereovision
Human beings generally come equipped with two eyes and one head. If you have any doubts about your equipment or your ability to see 3D, check out Why Some People Have Trouble Seeing 3D before continuing.

Unlike horses, humans have two eyes located side-by-side in the front of their heads. Thanks to the close side-by-side positioning, each eye takes a view of the same area from a slightly different angle. The two eye views have plenty in common, but each eye picks up visual information the other doesn't. Have you ever compared the different views of your right and left eye? The Eye Hop Game lets you do just that.

The word "stereo" comes from the Greek word "stereos" which means firm or solid. With stereo vision you see an object as solid in three spatial dimensions--width, height and depth--or x, y and z. It is the added perception of the depth dimension that makes stereo vision so rich and special.

Stereo Vision Has Many Advantages
Stereo vision--or stereoscopic vision --probably evolved as a means of survival. With stereo vision, we can see WHERE objects are in relation to our own bodies with much greater precision--especially when those objects are moving toward or away from us in the depth dimension. We can see a little bit around solid objects without moving our heads and we can even perceive and measure "empty" space with our eyes and brains.

If You've Got Stereo Vision, Count Your Blessings!
Here are a few examples of occupations that depend heavily on stereo vision:

• Baseball player
• Waitress
• Driver
• Architect
• Surgeon
• Dentist

Here are just a few examples of general actions that depend heavily on stereo vision:

• Throwing, catching or hitting a ball
• Driving and parking a car
• Planning and building a three-dimensional object
• Threading a needle and sewing
• Reaching out to shake someone's hand
• Pouring into a container
• Stepping off a curb or step

Are You Sure You've Got Stereo Vision?
It's hard to know what you're missing, if you've never had it. Do you see with both your eyes? Are your two eyes similar or different in sight?

This Is Just A Test -- of Your Stereo Vision System
Are both your eyes turned on and working together as a team? Try this easy test and find out if you are a good candidate for 3D viewing. It's The Framing Game and it only takes a minute!

* To read more about the difference between the side vision of horses and other creatures versus the frontal vision of humans, check out an eye doctor's in-depth explanation of how 3D stereovision and stereoscopic depth perception evolved in humans and other predator species (tigers, sharks, etc.).

You might have arrived here because you are searching for an answer as to why you can't see the 3-D in 3D movies...or you want to know why 3D movies or 3D virtual reality give you blurry vision, double vision, dizziness, motion sickness, nausea or make you dizzy.

Do you know whether you have normal 3D vision or not? If you know that you don't or aren't sure, keep reading and find out why?!!

Home    Top of Page    Contents    Learning to See in 3D
Undetected Vision Problem?    3D Art Gallery    FIND AN EYE DOCTOR
Vision Glossary    ADD, ADHD and Vision