Effects of simulated anisometropia and aniseikonia on stereopsis

Purpose: Stereopsis depends on horizontally disparate retinal images but otherwise concordance between eyes. Here we investigate the effect of spherical and meridional simulated anisometropia and aniseikonia on stereopsis thresholds. The aims were to determine effects of meridian, magnitude and the relative effects of the two conditions.

Methods: Ten participants with normal binocular vision viewed McGill modified random dot stereograms through synchronised shutter glasses. Stereoacuities were determined using a four-alternative forced-choice procedure. To induce anisometropia, trial lenses of varying power and axes were placed in front of right eyes. Seventeen combinations were used: zero (no lens) and both positive and negative, 1 and 2 D powers, at 45, 90 and 180 axes; spherical lenses were also tested. To induce aniseikonia 17 magnification power and axis combinations were used. This included zero (no lens), and 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% at axes 45, 90 and 180; overall magnifications were also tested.

Results: For induced anisometropia, stereopsis loss increased as cylindrical axis rotated from 180° to 90°, at which the loss was similar to that for spherical blur. For example, for 2 D meridional anisometropia threshold increased from 1.53 log sec arc (i.e. 34 sec arc) for x 180 to 1.89 log sec arc (78 sec arc) for x 90. Anisometropia induced with either positive or negative lenses had similar detrimental effects on stereopsis. Unlike anisometropia, the stereopsis loss with induced meridional aniseikonia was not affected by axis and was about 64% of that for overall aniseikonia of the same amount. Approximately, each 1 D of induced anisometropia had the same effect on threshold as did each 6% of induced aniseikonia.

Conclusion: The axes of meridional anisometropia but not aniseikonia affected stereopsis. This suggests differences in the way that monocular blur (anisometropia) and interocular shape differences (aniseikonia) are processed during the production of stereopsis.