DID YOU KNOW... WHY WE HAVE TWO EYES? Some animals have two eyes spread wide on their heads, giving them a broad field of view which is considered useful for detecting other animals which are trying to attack them. Think of deer. Others have two eyes situated closer together, giving them the advantage of good stereoscopic or 3D vision. This makes them better hunters, think of eagles and cats. Humans have a roughly 200 degree field of view, with quite good central acuity and 3D vision, so we are a mix. However, you don't need two eyes for 3D vision, and I have heard anecdotally that one of Australia's most successful cricket batsmen had compromised vision in one eye. I think the main reason we have two eyes is so we have two chances. Over 7% of us have one eye which doesn't see properly. If we only had one eye, that would be 1 in 14 of us who would be severely affected. Of these, 3% are from a condition called amblyopia or lazy eye, which I will talk about in more depth in the future. This can be corrected, but only if discovered early in childhood! Tony Ireland Evolve Optometry Shop G03, Village Centre, Batemans Bay | 4472 8080 www.evolveoptometry.com.au evolve OPTOMETRY AW7405426 DID YOU KNOW ... WHY WE HAVE TWO EYES ? Some animals have two eyes spread wide on their heads , giving them a broad field of view which is considered useful for detecting other animals which are trying to attack them . Think of deer . Others have two eyes situated closer together , giving them the advantage of good stereoscopic or 3D vision . This makes them better hunters , think of eagles and cats . Humans have a roughly 200 degree field of view , with quite good central acuity and 3D vision , so we are a mix . However , you don't need two eyes for 3D vision , and I have heard anecdotally that one of Australia's most successful cricket batsmen had compromised vision in one eye . I think the main reason we have two eyes is so we have two chances . Over 7 % of us have one eye which doesn't see properly . If we only had one eye , that would be 1 in 14 of us who would be severely affected . Of these , 3 % are from a condition called amblyopia or lazy eye , which I will talk about in more depth in the future . This can be corrected , but only if discovered early in childhood ! Tony Ireland Evolve Optometry Shop G03 , Village Centre , Batemans Bay | 4472 8080 www.evolveoptometry.com.au evolve OPTOMETRY AW7405426