What exactly is binocular vision?<br />Binocular vision is just seeing with two eyes at the same time.<br />Using two eyes is necessary for the brain to allow humans to see in 3D and assess distances and depth, and seeing with two eyes is better to seeing with one eye at a time since the composite image from two eyes is of higher quality than that of a single eye.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />1. Amblyopia (lazy eye)<br />Amblyopia (also called lazy eye) is a type of poor vision that usually happens in just 1 eye but less commonly in both eyes. It develops when there’s a breakdown in how the brain and the eye work together, and the brain can’t recognize the sight from 1 eye. Over time, the brain relies more and more on the other, stronger eye — while vision in the weaker eye gets worse.<br />Patients with amblyopia will display some or all the following symptoms:<br />• Learning or reading difficulties<br />• Reduced visual-motor skills<br />• Poor depth perception<br />• Inaccurate focusing skills<br />• Reduced contrast sensitivity<br />2. Strabismus<br />is a condition where there is an eye turn – also known as ‘wall eye’ or ‘squint’ where one eye faces either inward, outward, or higher than the other eye.<br /><br />3. Convergence excess<br />Convergence refers to the eyes’ ability to focus from far to near and converge together on a single point in space to produce a consistent image to send to the brain.<br />4. Convergence insufficiency<br />A person with convergence insufficiency struggles to turn their eyes inward, such as when reading or using a digital device.<br />Symptoms for convergence insufficiency include:<br />• Discomfort with close work done over long periods.<br />• Words seeming to move on the page while reading.<br />• Double vision<br />• Frequent headaches<br />5. Vertical heterophoria<br />Vertical heterophoria is a binocular fusion disorder where one eye has a tendency to drift upwards compared to the other.<br />Other causes of vertical heterophoria include:<br />• Age, being over 40.<br />• Pregnancy<br />• Stress on the body from illnesses such as Lyme disease and the flu<br />• Conditions that affect balance, such as inner ear infections<br /><br />