What is a main characteristic of peripheral vision?

Peripheral vision is primarily characterized by its very poor visual acuity. This aspect means that while peripheral vision allows individuals to detect motion and general shapes in their outer field of vision, it does not provide the sharpness or detail that is associated with central, or foveal, vision, which is responsible for high visual acuity. In peripheral vision, details become less distinct, making it harder to identify specific objects.

The capacity to perceive colors is more robust in central vision, where color discrimination is most effective. Peripheral vision, in contrast, is less sensitive to color. Additionally, high depth perception typically relies on binocular vision, which is the coordinated effort of both eyes focusing on objects, rather than the characteristics of peripheral vision.