Page 162 - July-August 2020

ESSENTIAL INSTRUMENTS TO DETECT

MUSCLE BALANCE

uscle balance gives a good of the specific instruments that are
and comfortable vision. used to improve the condition of the
M Any disturbance in muscle patient.
balance can cause phoria (Latent
squint) or tropia (Manifest squint) MADDOX ROD
which causes cosmetic disfigurement This is a handheld clinical
of the face as well as significant orthoptic instrument which consists
disturbances in the visual pathway. of a group of red cylindrical rods that
This can make the patient experience converts a white point source of light
a remarkably lesser vision along
with some other disturbances like into a red line that is perpendicular
cosmetic disfigurement, doubling to the axes of the Maddox Rods.
of vision (Diplopia), asthenopia, The instrument is used to detect a
Dr Vineet Shrivastava headache, nausea, vomiting, degree of phoria for a distance. When
B.E.M.S., D.O., (FOOREC) giddiness etc. To measure the the Maddox Rod is placed vertically
FCLC (Gold Medalist)
Consultant Optometrist & Educator amount of phoria or tropia, some over the right eye, the patient sees a
Banswara, Rajasthan special instruments are required horizontal red line and a white light.
in the respective hospital or clinic
to help provide an exact and clear
investigation data. These instruments
may be clinical or therapeutic -
clinical orthoptic instruments can be
used to detect the amount of squint
whereas therapeutic instruments are
used to give exercises or therapy for
enhancing the vision and cosmetic
look. Read on to know about some

| JULY-AUG 2020 | 158 OPTOMETRY