Depth perception helps you gauge how close or far away things are. Eye issues can impair your ability to use it well.
When people talk about depth perception, they’re referring to your eyes’ ability to judge the distance between two objects.
Both of your eyes perceive the same object slightly differently and at slightly different angles, but your brain can merge the two images into one 3D image. This process is also known as stereopsis.
With this information, you can gauge how far apart the objects are and how far they are from you.
A number of factors can contribute to problems with depth perception. Some of the most common include:
Strabismus
Strabismus is a condition that occurs when your eyes are not properly aligned. For example, one eye might turn inward or outward. Sometimes, an eye can also look upward or downward. Some people appear to have crossed eyes, which is also a sign of strabismus.
Essentially, since your eyes may look in slightly different directions, they’ll focus on different things.
Strabismus is a common condition in children. If corrected early in life, depth perception can develop normally.
Amblyopia
If your brain favors one eye over the other, resulting in one eye that doesn’t quite track properly, you have amblyopia.
Also known colloquially as “lazy eye,” amblyopia can cause vision loss in the weaker eye, which can reduce your depth perception and maybe even your vision.
Nerve problems
If your optic nerve is swollen or inflamed, it might affect your vision and interfere with your depth perception.
Additionally, some people are born with a rare type of nerve damage called optic nerve hypoplasia. It occurs when the optic nerve doesn’t fully develop.
Trauma to one of your eyes
If one of your eyes has been injured, you may no longer be able to see well enough to have good depth perception.
Blurry vision
There are dozens of potential causes of blurry vision, from corneal abrasions and glaucoma to diabetic retinopathy and nearsightedness.
Any condition that makes your vision blurry, even temporarily, can interfere with your ability to perceive distances and depth accurately.
You use visual cues to make all sorts of decisions every single day. And you probably don’t even think about it unless something is wrong.
When something affects your depth perception, it can also interfere with your daily life.
Here are a few common examples of how a problem that affects your depth perception may create some challenges.
Kids and learning
Children who can’t see very well may not say anything about it. But a careful observer may notice them squinting or moving their heads in an effort to get a better view.
Some children may even have trouble learning because they can’t see the board or other teaching materials at school.
Adults and driving
People with impaired vision or no vision in one eye may worry about how they’re going to get around. The good news is that you can probably still get a driver’s license.
However, because your vision problems can affect or reduce your depth perception abilities, you may need to use some strategies to help you drive safely.
Navigating the world around you
Depth perception helps people perform everyday tasks, like safely crossing a busy street, taking the stairs without the risk of misjudging them and stumbling, or even pouring a glass of milk.
If your depth perception is impaired, you may have some trouble doing those kinds of activities.
The treatment options for depth perception issues depend on the cause of the problem.
For example, children who have strabismus have trouble with depth perception because their eyes are misaligned. So, glasses can help some of them by helping straighten their eyes.
However, other children may need surgery to straighten their eyes, and they might still need to wear glasses after the surgery.
In other cases, such as when a child has amblyopia, a doctor might recommend putting a patch over the unaffected eye for short periods of time to strengthen the weaker eye.
If you have another type of eye condition that impairs your depth perception, talk with your eye doctor about the best possible treatment options. You might need surgery to remove a cataract, for example, or treatment for glaucoma.
Some people with limited sight in one eye but good sight in the other can adapt. They get enough visual information from their good eye to perceive depths and make judgments.
For example, drivers can monitor factors like the relative speed of other cars on the road and how light affects cars and other objects on or near the roadway. These spatial cues can help you gauge the distance between your car and other vehicles.
There are other strategies to try, too. For example, before driving, find ways to reduce glare and anything else that can interfere with your ability to see as best you can.
This might include cleaning your windshield to eliminate any grime or dirt that can interfere with your view. You can also dim the rearview mirror and angle your side mirrors to minimize the glare from the headlights of cars behind you.
Coping strategies can definitely help, but you might also benefit from the use of certain products or services.
These may include:
Specialized glasses
If you plan to drive, you may be a candidate for specialized glasses. Your doctor may suggest using bioptic telescope attachments on your glasses to make it easier for you to see things that are farther away.
Better lighting
If moving around your home is a challenge, try altering the lighting and contrast in certain areas to help you see better.
For example, if you have trouble perceiving depth differences at night, try improving the lighting in and around your home so you’re not walking in the dark.
Additionally, placing brightly colored tape on the edge of your stairs may help you navigate them better.
If you’ve long since adapted to an eye condition that affects your depth perception, you may have already developed a toolbox of effective ways to compensate.
But if you’ve recently sustained an eye injury or developed a condition that’s affecting your vision, it’s a good idea to talk with an eye doctor.
You may not be aware of any depth perception issues yet, but an eye doctor can examine you and determine whether it’s something to monitor.
It’s easy to take good depth perception for granted. But you can still live a full life even if your depth perception has been impaired in some way. You may benefit from certain treatments or visual aids to help you.
Many people with depth perception issues develop a combination of strategies to help them go about their lives as best they can.
If you notice any changes to your vision, be sure to check with an eye doctor, just in case you’re experiencing any new problems that may need to be treated.