WHAT IS A SYNOPTOPHORE?? It is an instrument which compensates for the angle of squint and allows the stimuli to be presented to both eyes simultaneously. It is an ophthalmic instrument which is used for diagnosing the imbalance of the eye muscle and treating them by orthoptic methods.
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?? It is used to investigate the potential for binocular function in the presence of a manifest squint. Specifically used in children (from 3 years of age) . Also used to detect suppression and Abnormal retinal correspondance .
HOW DOES IT WORK?? Consists of two cylindrical tubes with a mirrored right angled bend A +6.50 D lens in each eyepiece which optically sets the testing distance to about 6 metres . Pictures are inserted in a slide carrier situated at the outer end of each tube. Two tubes are supported on columns which enable the pictures to be moved in relation to each other. It can measure horizontal, vertical and torsional misalignments simultaneously.
ESTIMATION OF GRADES OF BINOCULAR VISION Grade 1- (SIMULTANEOUS PERCEPTION) tested by two dissimilar but not mutually antagonistic pictures, such as a bird and a cage Grade 2- (FUSION) Ability of the two eyes to produce a composite picture from two similar pictures, each of which is incomplete in one small different detail. Grade 3- ( stereopsis ) Ability to obtain an impression of depth by the superimposition of two pictures of the same object which have been taken from slightly different angles.
DETECTION OF NORMAL/ABNORMAL ARC Done by determining the subjective and objective angles of squint. In normal retinal correspondance , these two angles are equal. In ARC, objective angle is greater than the subjective angle and the difference between the two is called ANGLE OF ANOMALY.