Page 21 - BOAF Journal 1 2012:2707

Behavioral Optometry
BOAF
Volume1 Number1 2012
1. The Caecanometer, along with complete case history and examination, is used in obtaining a diagnosis and is in no way a treatment instru- ment.
2. The plotted area of the blind- spot is restricted or smaller than the expected or normal when associated with drain- age types of infection whose foci are above the clavicles.
3. Such a restricted blind-spot area regains its normal ex- pected plotted size when the source of infection has been removed.
4. It has been noted that visual integrity as well as the quality of depth perception is less- ened, especially under condi- tions of lowered illumination, when the plotted area of one
blind spot differs materially from the other.
5. Where there is a considerable
difference in the restrictions between the two eyes, there sometimes exists a notice- able difference in the con- trast of seeing. When this is associated with a patient who has a significantly ab- normal phoria, a condition of suppression often develops.
6. The first visual field changes due to glaucoma appear in the region of the blind spot. The extremely sensitive cae- cal and paracaecal meas- urements so easily taken with the Caecanometer are of di- agnostic significance.
When should a Cae-
canometer charting be taken?
Some doctors routinely take Caecanometer chartings before any other examination of the patient is undertaken in order to have evidence of draining focal infection and/or other pathology since this may effect their other pathology since this may effect their other examination tech- niques and/or their recommen- dations to the patient.
Some doctors only take a charting if symptoms or signs come to light during their rou- tine examination that indicate a Caecanometer charting should be performed.
When taking a charting for either draining focal infection or ocular pathology, the doctor might wish to state to the pa- tient his reasons why he feels the Caecanometer charting is advisable and give the symp- toms leading to this decision.
Instrumentation
To look at one point and be aware of another as we ask our patient to do in any field chart- ing technique is most difficult. It can be made much easier for the patient and therefore greater accuracy of the charting can be obtained by being certain that the Caecanometer is adjusted to the position that gives maxi- mum comfort.
Although the Caecanometer has a vertical height adjust- ment, this is frequently not suf- ficient and the instrument should therefore be placed on a table the height of which can be adjusted.
Caecanometer/Patient view
After seating the patient before the Caecanometer, he should be informed that you are going to plot his blind-spot and what the blind spot is. During this discussion, the Cae- canometer can be prepared for
Chart/ 2 tubes of fixation
a charting.
The patient must wear their
distance prescription while be- ing charted on the Caecanome- ter if they wear glasses.
The occluder should be placed so that the dominant eye will be plotted first. This is of importance as learning and at-
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