binokulární

Binokulární refers to anything involving both eyes. The term originates from Latin, with "bi" meaning two and "oculus" meaning eye. This applies to a wide range of optical instruments and biological concepts.

In optics, binokulární instruments are designed to be used with both eyes simultaneously, providing a stereoscopic view. The most common example is a binokulární telescope, often called binoculars. These devices consist of two telescopes mounted side-by-side, each with its own eyepiece, allowing the user to view a distant object with both eyes. This dual-eye viewing enhances depth perception and can be more comfortable for extended observation compared to monocular instruments. Other binokulární devices include binokulární microscopes, used for examining specimens at high magnification with both eyes.

From a biological perspective, binokulární vision is the ability of an animal to coordinate the use of both eyes to focus on a single object. This is contrasted with monokulární vision, where each eye operates independently. Animals with binokulární vision typically have their eyes positioned forward on their head, which allows for overlapping fields of view. This overlapping field is crucial for stereopsis, the perception of depth and distance. Many predators, including humans, possess binokulární vision to accurately judge the distance to their prey. The degree of overlap and the resulting stereoscopic acuity can vary significantly among species.