What are the symptoms of depth perception problems?
One eye visibly turns inwards or outwards, upwards or downwards.
The same eye always turns or the two eyes alternate.
Double vision that is constant or intermittent.
Blurry vision in one eye.
Frequently bumping into things and misjudging the position of objects.
Difficulty walking up or down stairs.
Depth perception explained:
Depth perception is achieved when the brain processes different pictures from each eye and combines them to form a single 3D image. Depth perception makes it possible for the eyes to determine distances between objects and to tell if something is near to us or far away.
Certain ocular conditions may reduce the perception of depth. Since binocular depth perception requires two functioning eyes, a person with only one functioning eye has no binocular depth perception. Double vision impairs our ability to perceive depth and also results in poor eye-hand-coordination and clumsiness.
What can we do?
When the lack of depth perception is linked with double vision, the underlying issues must be investigated. Depending on the cause of the problem, some instances of double vision and depth perception resolve on their own but double vision is distressing and difficult to live with.
Your optometrist may prescribe prism spectacles that mitigate the double vision or make it less frequent. This may give you some perception of depth. Bi-nasal or bi-temporal tape application on your existing spectacles, in a very specific way, is a simple yet effective method to reduce double vision in some cases and may even improve depth perception.
In severe instances, when no prism can be effective, a block-out spectacle lens over one eye can relieve double vision allowing patients a more natural visual experience. Seeing the world with only one eye is less distressing than seeing double but no perception of depth (stereopsis) will be possible. Over time your brain will use different visual cues to judge space and distance and learn to function differently over time.