Horopter

An article about the horopter in vision science

Horopter

The horopter is a concept in vision science that refers to the locus of points in space that are perceived as being at the same depth as the point of fixation. It is a critical concept in understanding binocular vision and stereopsis, the perception of depth based on the visual information received from both eyes.

Diagram illustrating the horopter

Definition

In the context of binocular vision, the horopter is defined as the set of points in the visual field that project to corresponding retinal points in each eye. When an observer fixates on a point, the horopter is the surface in space where objects are seen single and in depth. Objects located on the horopter are perceived as being equidistant from the observer as the fixation point.

Types of Horopters

There are two primary types of horopters:

Theoretical Horopter

The theoretical horopter is based on the geometry of the eyes and the assumption that corresponding retinal points are symmetrically distributed. It is often represented as a circle, known as the Vieth-Müller circle, which passes through the fixation point and the nodal points of the eyes.

Empirical Horopter

The empirical horopter is determined through experimental measurements and often deviates from the theoretical horopter. It is typically flatter than the Vieth-Müller circle and can vary depending on individual differences and viewing conditions.

Importance in Vision

The concept of the horopter is important for understanding how the brain processes binocular disparity to create a perception of depth. Objects that lie off the horopter will produce retinal disparities, which the brain interprets as depth cues. This is fundamental to stereopsis, allowing humans to perceive the three-dimensional structure of their environment.

Applications

Understanding the horopter has applications in various fields, including optometry, ophthalmology, and computer vision. It is used in the design of stereoscopic displays and virtual reality systems to ensure that images are presented in a way that is comfortable and natural for the viewer.

Related pages

• Binocular vision
• Stereopsis
• Retinal disparity
• Vieth-Müller circle