Loss of stereopsis in monkeys following prismatic binocular dissociation during infancy

Abstract

Prismatic binocular dissociation was used during infancy to mimic conditions of strabismus in macaque infants. Prisms worn continuously produce a diplopia unfavorable for the maintenance and development of the binocular visual system. Prism-reared monkeys were tested as young adults and found to be permanently stereoblind for dynamic random dot stereograms. Control monkeys did comparably to humans on such tests. It is concluded that short periods of diplopia attendant with strabismus are sufficient to produce permanent stereoblindness.