Glossary of Vision and Vision Therapy Terms

Behavioral Optometrist-"Behavioral optometrists define vision as the ability to drive meaning and to direct actions as triggered by light.  Vision is much more than simply seeing clearly.  It is the entire process whereby an individual understands what he or she sees.  Here the word "see" is used in a broad context.  Not only is vision the understanding of that which is seen, but it is also the ability to use this information to direct one's own actions and motor activities accurately and efficiently with a minimum expenditure of effort and energy."

Prisms- Prism lenses are lenses that change the direction of light rather than condence or expand light as conventional lenses do.  They are typically used to enhance one's ability to coordinate eyes in relation to the coordination of their bodies.  Instability in visual and/or motor function typically warrents a prism correction lens. Vertical yoked prism prescription have the potential to reorder and reorient visual function by simultaneously affecting visual motor and visual sensory processes.

Stereoscopic Vision- Binocular vision requires two views of an object, each seen from a slightly different angle (parallax) combined to form a three dimensional (stereoscopic) (3-D) presentation of that visible space. Our eye s are placed some distance apart, with a divider (the nose) in between, creating the ability to observe two separate images. Our brain combines these images to create a stereoscopic, three dimensional reference. When referring to the human vision system, we call this fused, simultaneous binocular vision. The perception is that of an object-oriented spatially real image.
(definition from The Eye Care Reports by Larry Bickford)

http://www.eyecarecontacts.com/binocular_vision_report.html

Here is more information on Stereo Vision from vision3d.com

Two Seeing Eyes = Two Views!
Two Views Used and Fused in the Brain = Stereovision!
What does it take to see life in 3D...not to mention 3-D stereograms, stereoscopic photographs, or 3D TV or movies, such as Avatar 3-D? On this page, you will learn about an exciting part of normal human vision - stereovision (a.k.a., stereoscopic vision or stereopsis). For now, let's just keep things simple and call it stereovision.

Human Beings with Two Eyes that Work Together Have Stereovision
Human beings generally come equipped with two eyes and one head.  If you have any doubts about your equipment or your ability to see 3D, check out Why Some People Have Trouble Seeing 3D before continuing.

Unlike horses, humans have two eyes located side-by-side in the front of their heads. Thanks to the close side-by-side positioning, each eye takes a view of the same area from a slightly different angle. The two eye views have plenty in common, but each eye picks up visual information the other doesn't. Have you ever compared the different views of your right and left eye? The Eye Hop Game lets you do just that.

Two Eyes = Three Dimensions (3D)!
Each eye captures its own view and the two separate images are sent on to the brain for processing. When the two images arrive simultaneously in the back of the brain, they are united into one picture. The mind combines the two images by matching up the similarities and adding in the small differences. The small differences between the two images add up to a big difference in the final picture! The combined image is more than the sum of its parts. It is a three-dimensional stereo picture.

The word "stereo" comes from the Greek word "stereos" which means firm or solid. With stereo vision you see an object as solid in three spatial dimensions--width, height and depth--or x, y and z. It is the added perception of the depth dimension that makes stereo vision so rich and special.

Stereo Vision Has Many Advantages
Stereo vision--or stereoscopic vision --probably evolved as a means of survival. With stereo vision, we can see WHERE objects are in relation to our own bodies with much greater precision--especially when those objects are moving toward or away from us in the depth dimension. We can see a little bit around solid objects without moving our heads and we can even perceive and measure "empty" space with our eyes and brains.

If You've Got Stereo Vision, Count Your Blessings!
Here are a few examples of occupations that depend heavily on stereo vision:

• Baseball player
• Waitress
• Driver
• Architect
• Surgeon
• Dentist

Here are just a few examples of general actions that depend heavily on stereo vision:

• Throwing, catching or hitting a ball
• Driving and parking a car
• Planning and building a three-dimensional object
• Threading a needle and sewing
• Reaching out to shake someone's hand
• Pouring into a container
• Stepping off a curb or step

Are You Sure You've Got Stereo Vision?
It's hard to know what you're missing, if you've never had it. Do you see with both your eyes? Are your two eyes similar or different in sight?

This Is Just A Test -- of Your Stereo Vision System
Are both your eyes turned on and working together as a team? Try this easy test and find out if you are a good candidate for 3D viewing. It's The Framing Game and it only takes a minute!

* To read more about the difference between the side vision of horses and the frontal vision of humans, check out an eye doctor's in-depth explanation of how 3D stereovision and stereoscopic depth perception evolved in humans and other predator species (tigers, sharks, etc.).

You may have arrived at this page because you were searching for an explanation as to why you can't see Avatar or other 3D movies in 3-D. Can you see 3D? If you can't, keep reading and find out why?!!

For more information visit www.vision3d.com

http://www.vision3d.com/stereo.html 

Syntonics- Syntonics or optometric phototherapy, is the branch of ocular science dealing with the application of selected light frequencies through the eyes. It has been used clinically for over 70 years in the field of optometry with continued success in the treatment of visual dysfunctions, including strabismus (eye turns), amblyopia (lazy eye), focusing and convergence problems, learning disorders, and the aftereffects of stress and trauma. In recent years, Syntonics has been shown to be effective in the treatment of brain injuries and emotional disorders.