The College of Optometrists

when performing arc perimetry in the routine exam what fixation target are we supposed to use?

i used 4mm red. Just a knitting needle with a round bead on top, painted red with nail varnish. V technical! Think is ok as long as something sensible, you can justify it, and you record it properly ie. what target you used and how far away from the patient it was.

5mm white circle on a stick is the thing to try and get. Hold it abt 67 cm from the px. I use a red spot and a white spot actually, My favourite is the white spot andI have picked up several serious things with it. For kids I have a little toy duck on a stick :-) (called Holly and she has worked for me for years (due a holiday!)palfitis

Strictly speaking, a 15mm Red or a 5mm white spherical target, at a working ditance of 33cm. This will equate to the GGoldmann III4e ispoter.

If the field is full record Full with 15/330 Red, or Full with 5/330 White

Any specific reason for using the red as opposed to white?

Apart from if your room has white walls the red shall stand out?

thanks for help, but i would like to know what target u get your Px to fix on? I.e. distance white spot? and if the Px is myopic eg -4.00D would you use a spot ligt at 33cm? or still use the spot light target at 6m?

Thsnks once again

Red because of the colour conduction defects, read up on the anatomy of the optic nerve to understand this more. The targets are different sizes (the ratio is 3:1 as Jane has stated)due to the different sensitivities within the retina.

Usually the patient fixes your eye or a finger held below your eye when doing "Confrontation fields". Similarly when doing "comparison fields".

Aha - fixation target, sorry! must have been the sun eve wine... I have found it best to get pt to fixate my eye as you can easily tell when the look away and i think patients find eye contact easier to maintain.

now thats what i used in past, although i didnt fail the routine on arc perimetry the examiner asked "how can u be sure that the arc is approximatley equidistant all the way round?" and also he questioned whether i could use that technique with a presbyope? In other words im jus trying to find out what other fixing target other people have used to pass the routine exam

o i c. I used that and passed unquestioned. I would say that should be ok with a presbyope coz u not too close.

thanks alot, puts my mind at rest :-)