Why do we see the same things as our eyes?
A new study shows that this “stereoscopic” phenomenon doesn’t seem to be caused by our eyes’ sensitivity to light.
In fact, researchers from the University of Oxford and the University College London have found that the same phenomenon is likely due to the way our eyes are shaped and how we process images.
What we see doesn’t always reflect reality As we move through the world, our eyes can see in all directions.
But there’s a certain amount of depth we need to perceive and that requires us to move our eyes in a certain way to capture it.
“For instance, if we look down, we need the eyes to be slightly curved to make the image appear larger and more accurate,” says lead author and Oxford graduate student Michael O’Leary.
“In the opposite direction, if the image is in front of us, it needs to be in the opposite way.
It has to move from side to side in a way that it can be seen from all sides.”
The researchers found that while it’s possible to capture an image by looking at a certain point in space, we tend to focus on a particular part of the image.
“Our findings show that the shape of the eyes is a way we can capture information, but that our perception of it is more dependent on the way we move our head,” O’Brien says.
“So when we look at a picture, our brain actually tries to compensate for this by changing the shape or location of the head, which means that the eye appears smaller than it really is.”
What you can do to improve your vision If you’re trying to improve the way you perceive the world around you, the researchers suggest that you try using a different kind of glasses for different situations.
They suggest you try looking through a different lens than the one you’re using now, and focus on the colours and shapes of the images you’re looking at.
“If we could see images as colours, we would be able to perceive colour differently,” O’mayle says.
And, if you can, try using different glasses when using your computer to view your favourite photos.
“We also found that it’s actually possible to improve our eyesight by moving away from bright light, such as sunlight, and instead focusing on colour,” Oarellas team explains.
“It’s possible for us to use different glasses to see the world in different ways, as we do in our daily lives.
For example, we can wear glasses that make it easier to see colour from far away, but we can also use glasses that let us see colour in a more subtle way, such that we don’t need to change our eye movements too much.”