Sensory and sensori-motor adaptations in strabismus: Their role in space perception

Abstract

In comitant strabismus many perceptual adaptive processes take place, which involve perception of space. Suppression of the image of the deviated eye and anomalous retinal correspondence (ARC) are the two main antidiplopic mechanisms. ARC may be present without suppression in small-angle strabismus (up to 10 degrees), supporting an anomalous binocular cooperation in spite of the deviation. Both psychophysical and electrophysiological evidence for anomalous binocular vision in strabismus are provided. Sensori-motor adaptations in strabismus develop as well. They are represented by vergence eye movements which, although not identical to, have similar characteristics as normal fusional vergences. These anomalous fusional eye movements tend to return the eyes to their original deviation when elements are introduced to change the position of the eyes, e.g., prisms or surgery. In conjunction with ARC, these movements serve to maintain binocular visual perception despite the strabismus.