What would impair the ability to judge distances accurately?

The ability to judge distances accurately relies heavily on the coordination and input of both eyes, commonly known as binocular vision. When binocular vision is compromised, it becomes challenging to perceive depth and distance correctly. This is because our brain uses the slight difference in the images seen by each eye, known as binocular disparity, to gauge how far away objects are in space.

If one eye is not functioning effectively or if there is a misalignment, the brain may receive conflicting information, leading to difficulties in depth perception and therefore impairing distance judgment. This can lead to issues in various activities such as driving, sports, or any task that requires spatial awareness.

While underdeveloped visual skills, loss of peripheral vision, and increased astigmatism can all influence sight and visual clarity, they do not specifically relate to the critical depth perception that is primarily facilitated by binocular vision. Each of these conditions may affect overall vision quality, but the specific impact on distance judgment is most pronounced when binocular vision is lost or diminished.