Question

How does strabismus during the critical period affect the development of ocular dominance in the visual cortex? What are the consequences for visual perception?

Answer 1

Ocular dominance defines the preference to provide the visual input from one side of eye over another eye. Both eyes provide the half image with help of half retina portion. In case of dominance there will modification in gaze direction which bring the image size change. Studies have showed that the people with left eye dominance have higher chances of william-beuren syndrome. This ocular dominance also causes the strabismus which occurs because of muscle dysfunction or infection and premature birth (brings the lack of coordination in between brain and eyes). There are three types of strabismus i.e. esotropia, exotropia and hypertropia.

During developmental stage it causes the loss of depth perception ability and amblyopia. It also creates the double vision when occurred during adult age. During initial stage the ocular dominance suppress the image produced by squint eye. Ocular dominance sometimes leads to development of strabismus (suppression of image produced by left eye over right eye). Focus from the fovea gets redirected onto the peripheral retina of other eye.