Eccentric viewing occurs under monocular or binocular conditions?

• A. Monocular
• B. Binocular
• C. Both
• D. Neither

Answer: (A)

Eccentric viewing is a strategy used when central vision is compromised, so the user fixates with a part of the retina outside the fovea (a peripheral or preferred retinal locus) to see more clearly. This pattern is most readily observed when testing with one eye at a time because occluding the other eye prevents binocular fusion from masking the fixation strategy. With monocular viewing, the eye with a central loss must rely on a nonfoveal area, so the eccentric fixation becomes evident. In binocular viewing, the other eye can provide a clearer foveal image and the brain may fuse inputs, reducing the appearance of eccentric viewing. Therefore, eccentric viewing typically occurs under monocular conditions.