Ocular Dominance Test For Evaluating Patients Undergoing Cataract Who Opt For Monovision

Abstract

Purpose: : To develop a new method using binocular rivalry and retinometers to quantitatively examine ocular dominance, and to investigate magnitude of ocular dominance in pre– and post–operative cataract patients.

Methods: : Durations of exclusive visibility for the dominant and non–dominant eye target in binocular rivalry were measured in 70 healthy volunteers (Study 1), and pre– and post–operatively in 15 cataract patients (Study 2). Rivalry targets were directly presented onto the retina of each eye using 2 retinometers. Subjects reported the exclusive visibility of one eye target, and total duration of exclusive visibility for each eye in dominant and non–dominant eye trials was evaluated.

Results: : In Study 1, magnitude of ocular dominance was quantitatively evaluated into 4 grades based on differences in total duration of exclusive visibility between dominant and non–dominant eyes. In Study 2, magnitude of ocular dominance could be evaluated in all cataract patients regardless of refractive and cataract conditions. Magnitude of ocular dominance displayed significant correlations between pre– and post–operative conditions (Simple regression, P<0.05).

Conclusions: : Ocular dominance could be quantitatively evaluated using this new method based on binocular rivalry and retinometers, particularly in cataract patients. Magnitude of ocular dominance might indicate whether a pre–operative patient with cataracts will have sufficient ocular dominance to adjust to monovision correction.

Keywords: cataract • binocular vision/stereopsis • refractive surgery