---
title: "Two Eyes, Three Dimensions: Why We Have Stereoscopic Vision"
description: "Stereoscopic vision allows humans to judge distance, which develops their ability to have true depth perception. But what are the other advantages of stereoscopic vision? And how did it evolve?"
date: "2016-10-24"
modified: "2017-01-30"
authors:
  - name: "Daniel Barker"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/daniel-barker"
url: "https://futurism.com/3d-why-we-have-stereoscopic-vision"
categories:
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "stereoscopy"
  - "vision"
---

# Two Eyes, Three Dimensions: Why We Have Stereoscopic Vision

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Stereoscopic-3D-View-50e7da423b13b_hires.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: pxleyes\</em\>*

Humans and other mammals have two eyes so that they can perceive three visual dimensions. But there is so much more to the story of 3D, and stereoscopic tech, than having two eyes.

https://soundcloud.com/uncertaintyprinciple/three-d

Uncertainty Principle is a podcast by [Daniel James Barker](<https://www.patreon.com/uncertaintyprinciple>)

### Episode Music:

"Cylinder One" by [Chris Zabriskie](<https://soundcloud.com/chriszabriskie/cylinder-one>)

"Let's Start at the Beginning" by [Lee Rosevere](<http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_For_Podcasts/Lee_Rosevere_-_Music_For_Podcasts_-_01_Lets_Start_at_the_Beginning>)

"On Behalf of my Parents" by [Joseph Barker](<https://soundcloud.com/internationalsockmonkey/on-behalf-of-my-parents-joseph>)

"Planetary Boundary Layer" by [Sol.ar Lab](<https://soundcloud.com/solar-lab/planetary-boundary-layer>)

"The Theatrical Trailer for Poltergeist III" by [Chris Zabriskie](<https://soundcloud.com/chriszabriskie/the-theatrical-poster-for-poltergeist-iii>)

You can find Uncertainty Principle online at [UncertaintyPrinciplethePodcast.com](<https://uncertaintyprinciplethepodcast.com/>)

Thanks for listening, and keep exploring.

## Author
Physics undergraduate at Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN. Podcaster. Science Writer.