Binocular here means two eyepieces, not two objectives. Both eyes look down the same optical path through a splitting prism, so you get one image rather than a stereo one. The gain is comfort: an hour at a binocular head is far easier than an hour squinting through a monocular.
For a 3D view of a whole specimen you want a stereo microscope instead, which uses two separate light paths at lower magnification.
Two eyepieces mean longer, more comfortable sessions behind the lens.
Viewing with both eyes greatly reduces the eye strain and fatigue that build up during long observation sessions, making binocular microscopes the preferred choice for hours of continuous research work.
Tertiary biology, medical, and veterinary courses rely on binocular microscopes for detailed cell and tissue study, where comfort and image clarity matter over a full practical session.
Schools and labs stepping up from entry-level monocular microscopes choose binocular models for the added comfort, without the cost jump to a trinocular camera-ready system.
Senior secondary Life Sciences classes benefit from binocular microscopes for more detailed, comfortable observation as practical work moves beyond basic introductory microscopy.
