Binocular Vision Games

School is starting back, and it is time to schedule a vision exam with your child's eye doctor.  

Let's have some fun with a couple of vision games, which might show up a problem with your child's binocular vision.

The Thumb Hop

This activity shows the different angles of view of your two eyes, and how your eyes work together to combine both views. 

• Stare at an object several meters in front of you - a light switch or a door handle is ideal
• With both eyes open, put your thumb a few inches in front of your nose. Position your thumb so it covers the object you are looking at.
• Close your left eye and keep the right eye open
• Watch your thumb hop to the left of the object! 
• Repeat with your right eye closed and left eye open
• Watch your thumb hop to the right of the object!
• Open both eyes, and your thumb should cover the object again.

If the thumb does not move after closing one eye, and remains centered over the object, your child may have a problem with binocular vision, and should have their vision checked as soon as possible.


Depth Perception

With both eyes open, hold a pencil in each hand at arms length from your face, with the erasers pointing towards each other. Spread your arms out, and then bring the pencils together so that the erasers touch.

Now close one eye, and try again. Did they slide past each other?  It is way more difficult to judge it right without using both eyes. 

It is even more difficult to touch the tips of the pencils together. 

The above tasks can also be done using your fingers, and a young child should try using their fingers instead of pencils. If your child has difficulty making their fingers meet with both eyes open, they might have a problem with binocular vision, and should have their vision checked as soon as possible.