Binocular Vision

Having 20/20 eyesight doesn't guarantee that you have perfect vision. Reading an eye chart is a specific, static visual task. But most daily activities require our eyes to perform more demanding, dynamic functions.



Clear, comfortable vision depends on how well our eyes work together as a team. This teaming of the eyes is called binocularity, or binocular vision. If each eye has 20/20 eyesight but the two eyes are not properly aligned to work together efficiently as a team, blurred vision, eyestrain and headaches can occur.



Computer use and other near vision tasks require our eyes to work together while pointing slightly inward. This inward direction of the line of sight of each eye is called convergence.



Reading and computer work also require our eyes to move quickly and accurately from point to point on a page or screen. And the closer objects are, the more focusing effort our eyes have to perform.



Many visual tasks also require that we change the focus and position of our eyes quickly and repeatedly (taking notes during a classroom lecture, for example). This changing of the focus point of our eyes is called Accommodation.



People who have perfect 20/20 eyesight can have binocular vision problems that can cause headaches, eyestrain, and blurred vision. Binocular vision problems may also cause reading problems among school-aged children.



If you or one of your children are experiencing frequent headaches and eyestrain, see your eye doctor to determine if you have a binocular vision or accommodative problem. Many binocularity and focusing problems can be successfully treated with vision therapy or special prescription eyewear.