Depth perception

Depth perception is the visual ability to estimate distance and perceive three-dimensional structure. It combines cues from both eyes with cues available to each eye alone.

Binocular disparity: The difference between the images formed on the two retinas when viewing a scene. The visual system uses these image differences to infer relative depth.
Retina: The light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that converts incoming light into neural signals. Depth cues begin as patterns of light registered separately by the two retinas.
Stereoscopic display: A display that presents different images to the two eyes to create a perception of depth. It recreates binocular disparity to make flat screens appear three-dimensional.
Monocular cue: A visual feature that can provide information about depth when viewed with one eye. This broader class contrasts with cues that depend on comparing both eyes.
Accommodation (eye): The adjustment of the eye's lens shape to focus objects at different distances. Changes in focusing effort can signal distance, especially for nearby objects.
Visual cortex: The part of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information. Neural processing in visual cortex helps combine and interpret depth cues.
Virtual reality: Computer-generated environments presented in ways that support interaction and a sense of presence. Head tracking and stereoscopic images use depth cues to make simulated spaces navigable.
Binocular vision: Vision that uses input from both eyes. It supplies paired retinal images, unlike depth judgments possible with one eye.
Convergence (eye): The inward rotation of both eyes when they fixate on a nearby object. The angle of eye convergence supplies a distance cue at close range.
Visual acuity: The ability to resolve fine detail in vision. Clear spatial detail supports judgments based on edges, texture, and disparity.

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