ocular dominance test

1. OCULAR DOMINANCE
Lloven Dale

2. Ocular Dominance
 The superiority of one eye whose visual
function predominates over the other eye. It is
that eye (called the dominant eye) which is
relied upon more than the other in binocular
vision. It is not necessarily the eye with the
best acuity. (http://medical-dictionary.
thefreedictionary.com)
 The priority of one eye over the other as
regards preference of use or acuity of vision.
(oxford-dictionaries)

3. Ocular dominance
 Ocular dominance is the tendency to prefer
visual input from one eye to the other [e.g.
Porac, C. & Coren, S. (1976). The dominant
eye. Psychological Bulletin 83(5), 880–897]. In
standard sighting tests, most people
consistently fall into either the left- or right eye-dominant
category [Miles, W. R. (1930). Ocular
dominance in human adults. Journal of
General Psychology 3, 412–420].

4. Determination of ocular
dominance
 The Miles test.
The observer extends both arms, brings
both hands together to create a small
opening, then with both eyes open views a
distant object through the opening. The
observer then alternates closing the eyes
or slowly draws opening back to the head
to determine which eye is viewing the
object (i.e. the dominant eye).
Roth HL, Lora AN, Heilman KM (2002).Brain 125 (Pt 9): 2023–35

5.  The Porta test.
The observer extends one arm, then
with both eyes open aligns the thumb
or index finger with a distant object.
The observer then alternates closing
the eyes or slowly draws the
thumb/finger back to the head to
determine which eye is viewing the
object (i.e. the dominant eye).
Roth HL, Lora AN, Heilman KM (2002).Brain 125 (Pt 9): 2023–35

6.  The Dolman method, also known as the
hole-in-the-card test.
The subject is given a card with a small
hole in the middle, instructed to hold it with
both hands, then instructed to view a
distant object through the hole with both
eyes open. The observer then alternates
closing the eyes or slowly draws the
opening back to the head to determine
which eye is viewing the object (i.e. the
dominant eye). Cheng CY, Yen MY, Lin HY, Hsia WW, Hsu WM (2004)
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 45 (8): 2856–60

7. Advantages
 Sports
 For target sports such as shooting and archery, it
is important to determine your eye dominance
when first working on technique. Athletes in other
sports may rely on one eye too much for vision,
meaning they would find it harder to see things
towards the other side of the body. This is
relevant for peripheral awareness (the ability to
see objects in the peripheral of your vision).

8.  It has been suggested that cross-dominance
(in which the dominant eye is on one side and
the dominant hand is on the other) is
advantageous in sports requiring side-on
stances (e.g. baseball, cricket, golf), though
studies have not been able to confirm this.