The College of Optometrists

Can u use a Maddox Rod with a pentorch to measure phoria at near as an alternative to the Maddox Wing?

Yes but be aware of the distance that you hold the pentorch.

The snag with this is the streak is very broad so it is not a very sensitive test for near phoria (about as sensitive as a cover test I would have thought).

Good idea = but you would need a tiny spot of light to form the streak.

If you have not got a Maddox Wing - why don't you use a bar infront the the passage tey are reading to find their ability to manage binocular stress. Just get a plastic ruler - a narrow PD rule will do and put it on the page and get them to tell you when they can 'see' through it to read the whole page underneeth. You then lift it slowly from the page towards them.

Alternatively you could try prism flippers per Calder Gilly. Here you use a 2 or 3 prism dioptre lens - preferably on a twirl (like a cross cyl but a prism). Try it each way (base in then base out) and see which the px prefers. ( it really stresses the fusional reserves in each direction and can find the need for a prism if flipped quite quickly).

You typically use a 1/2 prism for flip for vertical phorias (its great for verticals and good for horizontals if you are experienced with it)

In the exam however, you may need to use a Maddox Wing and or a Fixtion Disparity unit.

steve

a tad belated , but this sounds a brilliant idea