Spatial characteristics of static and dynamic stereoacuity in strabismus.

The spatial and temporal organization of stereoscopic depth perception were compared in normal and strabismic observers. The minimum and maximum disparities for stimulating static and dynamic stereopsis in strabismus were examined as a function of spatial separation of disparate stimuli. Disparities and their spacing were produced by spatial modulation of two vertical lines viewed haploscopically. Most strabismics had normal upper disparity limits but elevated static and dynamic stereothresholds. Moderate stereothreshold elevations (100 arc sec) were constant for spatial separations greater than 15 arc min. Two new types of spatial crowding effects upon stereopsis were observed. The first type resulted from the constant elevation of the disparity threshold. The second type consisted of a reduced maximum disparity limit for stereopsis. In both cases, the constriction of the range of perceivable depth produced a reduction in the spatial and temporal frequency limits for depth perception. Clinical tests of stereoacuity that crowd stimuli closer than 0.25 degree underestimated the strabismic patients' potential stereoacuities by a factor of 2 to 4. Similarly, tests of dynamic stereopsis that use temporal frequencies greater than 1 Hz will underestimate optimal dynamic stereoacuity.