I am what???

You're a stereo-blind. Wait. What? When I first read those words I thought it was some sort of juvenile insult, but as I read on I became fascinated. Considering my most recent post, "Are we witnessing the next step in human evolution?" (http://physioblogology4.blogspot.com/2014/11/are-we-witnessing-next-step-in-human.html), I figure It would make sense to post about the flip side.

Stereo-blind is no more an insult than "your epidermis is showing"...It is a condition that arises from such ailments as amblyopia, strabismus, optic nerve hypoplasia. Essentially the eyes do not work together and as a result the individually sees in 2D and lacks depth perception. Other than the above conditions, currently there does not seem to be a genetic link such as a gene mutation. It is a structural abnormality and can occur in anyone.  In the picture you can see an example of a seeing in 3D on the Left and 2D on the right.

The good news is it can be corrected. Susan R. Barry not only was stereo- blind for most her life, but found a way to fix it, and see in 3D at the age of 48. 48!! How cool is that?

The funny thing is, you may be stereo-blind and not even know it! As a person gets older, one of their eyes becomes dominant. This phenomenon 

usually happens slowly and the individual does not recognize the change because they know nothing different. A key sign? You go to see "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 3D (or any 3D movie) and don't see any thing different. (3D movies are not worth the extra $5 anyway.)

Think you might be stereo-blind? Talk to your ophthalmologist, or take this online test (http://www.mediacollege.com/3d/depth-perception/test.html).

But seriously, if your concerned see your ophthalmologist. 

Resources:

http://www.mediacollege.com/3d/depth-perception/stereoblind.html

http://www.fixingmygaze.com/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/seeing-in-3-d/