What is retinal disparity?

Retinal disparity is the slight difference in the horizontal position of an object as seen by the left and right eyes. This difference is due to the eyes being a few inches apart and each eye having a slightly different perspective on the same scene. The brain uses this difference in the images from each eye to perceive depth and create a three-dimensional view of the world. This ability to perceive depth through retinal disparity is known as stereopsis. The greater the retinal disparity between the two eyes, the closer the object is perceived to be. This natural ability of the brain to process retinal disparity helps us to judge distances, navigate our environment, and perceive the world in three dimensions.