AN OPTOMETRIC TREATMENT OF STRABISMUS

ABSTRACT: Calder Gillie (1958) suggested that certain cases of strabismus may be due to an abnormal pattern of appreciation of physiological diplopia. From this proposal a system of treatment of some cases of strabismus has been developed which is ideally suited to private optometric practice. This system is utilised in some of the orthoptic clinics of the London Refraction Hospital. Members of the Refraction Hospital staff have made major contributions to the development of the system described and have been instrumental in bringing the system to members of the optometric profession. Simple home and consulting room tasks involving the use of coloured strings, knitting needles, lights and pages from magazines are used as a means of making the patient aware of the normal physiological diplopia pattern. The importance of the cover test as a means of diagnosing and assessing progress in the treatment of squint is considered. Refractive correction and over-and-under correction as ‘tools’ in the treatment of squint are considered. A review of the results obtained in the treatment of 105 squinters in a private practice is mentioned.