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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Assessing Binocular Central Visual Field and Binocular Eye Movements in a Dichoptic Viewing Condition

Assessing Binocular Central Visual Field and Binocular Eye Movements in a Dichoptic Viewing Condition

Published on: July 21, 2020

Was Rembrandt strabismic?

Nicholas E Mondero¹, Russell J Crotty, Roger W West

¹Oklahoma College of Optometry, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA.

Optometry and Vision Science : Official Publication of the American Academy of Optometry

|July 30, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Analysis of Rembrandt's self-portraits suggests his apparent exotropia was not due to a medical condition. Artistic techniques and gazeovershoot likely created the illusion of strabismus in his paintings.

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Using an Automated Hirschberg Test App to Evaluate Ocular Alignment

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Published on: March 24, 2020

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Using an Automated Hirschberg Test App to Evaluate Ocular Alignment

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Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Art History
Perceptual Psychology

Background:

Previous studies suggested Rembrandt had exotropia based on iris centration in self-portraits.
This study re-examined Rembrandt's self-portraits to evaluate the claim of strabismus.

Discussion:

Observer judgments indicated an outward deviation of gaze, but this was partly due to the non-affected eye.
Factors like head turn, mirror use, and angle kappas contributed to the perceived strabismus.
The apparent strabismus was primarily observed in early career portraits.

Key Insights:

The apparent outward deviation of the eyes in Rembrandt's self-portraits can be explained by factors other than actual exotropia.
Artistic choices, including gaze overshoot and potentially an artistic style, may account for the perceived strabismus.
Similar appearances were noted in portraits of non-strabismic individuals by Rembrandt and his students.

Outlook:

Further research could explore the prevalence of such artistic conventions in portraiture of the era.
Investigating the specific artistic techniques used by Rembrandt and his contemporaries could clarify the role of style in perceived ocular alignment.