Question

How horopter relates to our perception of depth

Answer 1

How horopter relates to our perception of depth

When studying binocular vision, the locus of different points which would be having similar disparities such as fixation, are referred to as horopter. The horopter is referred to as two points present in space that would be projecting on the points corresponding to those, present on anatomically similar points.

Horopter could be referred to as imaginary circle that would be passing through different focus points. Objects that are present on the horopter would be producing equal differences in the two eyes. Objects that are present inside horopter would be having crossed disparity whereas objects present outside, will be having uncrossed disparity.

Binocular disparity is identified through the differences in the location, present between the images produced by the left and the right eye. As a result of this vision, there would be development of stereopsis, which allows depth perception. This occurs through fusion of images stimulating elements that are horizontally disparate. As there would be fusion if the elements that are horizontally disparate, there would be formation of retinal images that are unique, leading to three dimensional perceptions. If an object will only be confined to the horopter, it will be appearing as flat, as there would be zero disparities on the horizontal plane. For the objects that are far, there would be formation of uncrossed disparities present back of the horopter. Stereoacuity helps creating such depth perceptions.