6. Relationship between handedness and ocular dominance in healthy young adults – A study

The present study aims to determine the relation between handedness and ocular dominance in healthy young adults. The study included 100 healthy subjects of age group 18 to 25 years. By questionnaire method hand preference and eye preference was determined, and then ocular dominance was confirmed by Miles test. By questionnaire method, 97% were right handed and 84% were right eye dominant, 16% left eye dominant. The calculated Chi –Square value is 0.224 & is less than the table value (3.84) at 5% level of significance for one degree of freedom. No significant association was found between hand and ocular dominance. By Miles test, 75% were right eye dominant and 25% left eye dominant and Miles test was more significant for confirmation of ocular dominance than questionnaire method. 74% showed uncrossed hand ocular dominance and 26% showed crossed dominance. The calculated Chi –Square value is 0.115 & is less than the table value (3.84) at 5% level of significance for one degree of freedom. In conclusion, in the present study there is no significant relation between dominant eye and dominant hand. Eye hand dominance could serve as a factor in athletes or guiding young players on whether to hit left or right hand or to switch hit. Although the role of ocular preference in sports is inconclusive, evaluation of preferred eye, hand has been included in many sports vision evaluations. It may also be used in assessment of learning disabilities.