vision diagnostics
 

Does anyone have any idea on what types of vision diagnostic centers/technologies are available to patients? I understand there is significant high tech eye trackers available for research, however, doctors still seem to do the "follow my finger" test which is not sensitive enough to pick up visual disturbances. For example, I have been having some trouble with reading: I suspect this is a mild saccades problem but it is impossible to diagnose as my eyes can jump fine between large distances but likely have trouble jumping from word to word over much smaller distances. I would like to engage in some diagnostics that are sensitive enough to pick up whatever is actually wrong (and that have preferably been invented in the last 100 years as opposed to the finger test which is from the stone age). Anyone have any references on what kind of tests have been done and what types of specialists to see here? I have seen a neuro-opthamologist and a vision occupational therapist.. they all use the finger test.

Horizontal gaze or nystagmus testing (follow the finger) is not designed to diagnose for treatment. It is just an indicator of neurological impairment. That is why it is used for drunk driver testing. A Neuro Ophthalmologist may be helpful or a Behavioral Optometrist. If you search this forum for behavioral optometrist, you will find some previous threads from a few years ago. There is an association that can be used to find a local specialist.

There are some sophisticated nystagmus testing protocols. There is also a system that watches the eyes electronically as you are put through various body positions similar to the Gyro Stim device.

If you are in CA., UC Berkeley has a tremendous eye center. We have been there and the doctors are very knowledgeable. You might be able to call and ask the enter what they recommend if you are out-of -state

My best to you,

Thanks for the tip! Could you provide a link to the center you are speaking of? I'll give them a call.

You can also look up referrals at http://www.braininjuries.org or http://www.nora.cc

Could you tell me what specific visual tests were performed on you?

I had a regular eye exam (read the letters from the chart), the eye tracking test, convergence tests (checking how well my eyes could focus at close range), binocular vision tests (check how well my eyes worked together), and some others I'm not remembering right now.

I was diagnosed with convergence insufficiency, accommodation problems, and binocular vision problems, for which I received 10 weeks of vision therapy. I would have continued, but 10 weeks was all my insurance would pay for.

Hope this helps!

My daughter has cranial nerve number 4 eye palsy. Her eyes are walleyed after the ball served hit her in the head. She is seeing double and her eyes don't move together. The eye specialist did a lot of tests. She had to look into a machine and click when she saw a letter flash. She did color testing. He looked into her eyes

with a thing on his head. She covered eyes and read charts and looked in a distance and he measured her eyes. I was amazed. He got measurements and had bifocals and prisms glasses made. They are helping. Now she is doing visual exercises. He said she may need eye muscle surgery. They are over correcting.

Thank you all for your responses, and I wish you all the best in your respective situations. Were the people who did this testing neuro-opthamolgists or behavioral optometrists? Any in the NYC area that you recommend?

http://www.caleyecare.org

at UC Berkeley. They may have information on universities in your area.