Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2026

Assessing Binocular Central Visual Field and Binocular Eye Movements in a Dichoptic Viewing Condition
Published on: July 21, 2020
Errors in space perception due to accommodative retinal advance
Abstract:
Accommodative retinal advance may be defined as the forward shift of the entire retina from contracture of the ciliary muscle in accommodation. The anterior border moves forward 0.5 millimeters at maximum accommodation, with an asymmetrical distoriton of the image of space. It is as though the retinal image is projected on a thin sheet of rubber pulled out on three sides, the fourth being fixed by attachment to the optic nerve. Accommodative retinal advance explains some puzzling errors of space perception described in dozens of papers and monographs, usually attributed to unequal crowding of retinal receptors, or the mystical upper cerebral activity. The horopter error, the alley error, and the Aubert-Foerster phenomenon are discussed. Credit is given to those early experimenters whose theories have been confirmed.
Related Concept Videos
Vision
Anatomy of the Eyeball
Focusing of Light in the Eye
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Depth Perception and Spatial Vision
Visual System
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...

