The difference of distance stereoacuity measured with different separating methods

BACKGROUND: The majority of tests to evaluate stereopsis should separate two eyes first. Whether different binocular separating manner may affect the test result of stereopsis is the main purpose of this study. Red-green anaglyphs, polarized light technology, active shutter 3D system, and auto-stereoscopic technique were chosen to evaluate distance stereoacuity. METHODS: Red-green anaglyphs test system was established with an ASUS laptop with the aid of TNO Stereotest glasses. Active shutter 3D system was set up with the same ASUS laptop with the aid of NVidia 3D Vision 2 Wireless Glasses Kit. The polarized 3D system adopted the AOC display. A Samsung naked-eye 3D laptop was used to set up an auto-stereoscopic system. Thirty subjects were recruited. Distance stereoacuity was measured with those computer systems. RESULTS: The auto-stereoscopic system was failed to measure distance stereopsis. A significant difference was found among red-green anaglyphs, polarized 3D system, and active shutter 3D system (Friedman Test, Chi-square =48.713, P<0.001). No significant difference was found between the polarized 3D system and an active shutter 3D system (Z=−1.134, P=0.257). The stereoacuity of the red-green glasses test was significantly worse than those of the other two test systems (versus shutter 3D test, Z=−4.553, P<0.001; versus polarized 3D test, Z=−4.618, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Different separating methods may affect the test result of distance stereopsis.