Effect of fixation disparity on distance binocular visual acuity

Subjects with appreciable values (2 delta and greater) of associated 'phoria, as measured by a Mallett unit, had their distance monocular and binocular visual acuities measured. In the latter case measurements were taken both with the associated 'phoria corrected by prisms and without such a correction. The improvement in binocular acuity compared to monocular acuity was less than would occur in normal subjects with minimal associated 'phorias although the improvement differed accordingly as to whether the readings were eso- or exo-in mature. When the associated 'phorias were corrected with prisms the improvement in binocular over monocular visual acuity was similar to that found in normal subjects.