Binocular coordination in response to two-dimensional, three-dimensional and stereoscopic visual stimuli

Citation information: Blythe HI, Holliman NS, Jainta S, Tbaily LW & Liversedge SP. Binocular coordination in response to two-dimensional, three-dimensional and stereoscopic visual stimuli. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32, 397411. doi:10.1111/j.1475-1313.2012.00926.x Abstract Purpose: We were particularly interested in whether binocular coordination when viewing stereoscopic images would be more comparable to when viewing a 2D representation, or when viewing a real stimulus array in depth. Methods: Data are reported from an experiment examining binocular coordination in response to stereoscopically presented stimuli. Movements of both eyes were recorded as participants viewed LED stimuli in a real scene with depth, a 2D image of the scene, and a stereoscopic image of the scene. Results: When viewing real LEDs, vergence during saccades re-aligned the eyes in depth where necessary, with smaller adjustments during the following fixation. In contrast, when viewing the stereoscopic representation, vergence during saccades did not re-align the eyes in depth. The only effect of target depth on vergence occurred during the following fixation. Conclusions: We conclude that disparity in parafoveal objects, in isolation from other depth cues (and, minimally, conflicting with blur), was insufficient for the visual system to target saccades appropriately in depth.