(Science Focus) How can one eye alone provide depth perception

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Source: http://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/how-can-one-eye-alone-provide-depth-perception/
Author: Hilary Guite

  • In humans with normal binocular vision, depth perception is obtained using the parallax  in the two overlapping fields of vision (“binocular disparity”)

  • Each single field of vision has a slightly different view to the other

  • If vision in one eye is impaired, depth perception is still obtainable even with only one eye. Some tricks that the brain uses:

    1. We know the real size of things
    2. Using perspective, e.g. parallel lines converging to a perspective point
    3. Motion parallax (closer objects visually shift much more than distant ones when we move)