BACKGROUND/AIM: Scleral search coils are used to measure eye movements. A recent abstract suggests that the coil can affect the eye by decreasing visual acuity, increasing intraocular pressure, and damaging the corneal and conjunctival surface. Such findings, if repeated in all subjects, would cast doubt on the credibility of the search coil as a reliable investigative technique. The aim of this study was to reassess the effect of the scleral search coil on visual function. METHODS: Six volunteer subjects were selected to undergo coil wear and baseline measurements were taken of logMAR visual acuity, non-contact tonometry, keratometry, and slit lamp examination. Four drops of 0.4% benoxinate hydrochloride were instilled before insertion of the lens by an experienced clinician. The lens then remained on the eye for 30 minutes. Measurements of the four ocular health parameters were repeated after 15 and 30 minutes of lens wear. The lens was then removed and the health of the eye reassessed. RESULTS: No obvious pattern of change was found in logMAR visual acuity, keratometry, or intraocular pressure. The lens did produce changes to the conjunctival and corneal surfaces, but this was not considered clinically significant. CONCLUSION: Search coils do not appear to cause any significant effects on visual function. However, thorough prescreening of subjects and post-wear checks should be carried out on all coil wearers to ensure no adverse effects have been caused.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Scleral search coils are used to measure eye movements. A recent abstract suggests that the coil can affect the eye by decreasing visual acuity, increasing intraocular pressure, and damaging the corneal and conjunctival surface. Such findings, if repeated in all subjects, would cast doubt on the credibility of the search coil as a reliable investigative technique. The aim of this study was to reassess the effect of the scleral search coil on visual function. METHODS: Six volunteer subjects were selected to undergo coil wear and baseline measurements were taken of logMAR visual acuity, non-contact tonometry, keratometry, and slit lamp examination. Four drops of 0.4% benoxinate hydrochloride were instilled before insertion of the lens by an experienced clinician. The lens then remained on the eye for 30 minutes. Measurements of the four ocular health parameters were repeated after 15 and 30 minutes of lens wear. The lens was then removed and the health of the eye reassessed. RESULTS: No obvious pattern of change was found in logMAR visual acuity, keratometry, or intraocular pressure. The lens did produce changes to the conjunctival and corneal surfaces, but this was not considered clinically significant. CONCLUSION: Search coils do not appear to cause any significant effects on visual function. However, thorough prescreening of subjects and post-wear checks should be carried out on all coil wearers to ensure no adverse effects have been caused.
Authors: J P Flipse; C S Straathof; J Van der Steen; A F Van Leeuwen; P A Van Doorn; F G Van der Meché; H Collewijn Journal: J Neurol Sci Date: 1997-05-01 Impact factor: 3.181
Authors: Kenneth Holmqvist; Saga Lee Örbom; Ignace T C Hooge; Diederick C Niehorster; Robert G Alexander; Richard Andersson; Jeroen S Benjamins; Pieter Blignaut; Anne-Marie Brouwer; Lewis L Chuang; Kirsten A Dalrymple; Denis Drieghe; Matt J Dunn; Ulrich Ettinger; Susann Fiedler; Tom Foulsham; Jos N van der Geest; Dan Witzner Hansen; Samuel B Hutton; Enkelejda Kasneci; Alan Kingstone; Paul C Knox; Ellen M Kok; Helena Lee; Joy Yeonjoo Lee; Jukka M Leppänen; Stephen Macknik; Päivi Majaranta; Susana Martinez-Conde; Antje Nuthmann; Marcus Nyström; Jacob L Orquin; Jorge Otero-Millan; Soon Young Park; Stanislav Popelka; Frank Proudlock; Frank Renkewitz; Austin Roorda; Michael Schulte-Mecklenbeck; Bonita Sharif; Frederick Shic; Mark Shovman; Mervyn G Thomas; Ward Venrooij; Raimondas Zemblys; Roy S Hessels Journal: Behav Res Methods Date: 2022-04-06