Distance horizontal fusional facility (DFF): A new diagnostic vergence test for the acquired brain injury (ABI) population

• Barry Tannen ^[2] ; Emma Karlin ^[3] ; Kenneth J. Ciuffreda ^[4] ; Noah Tannen ^[2] ; John Shelley-Tremblay ^[1]
  1. [1] University of South Alabama

     University of South Alabama

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Eye Care Professionals, PC 1777 Kuser Road, Hamilton, NJ 08690, USA
  3. [3] Dr. Shalu Pal and Associates, Toronto, ON M5S 2V1, Canada
  4. [4] SUNY/College of Optometry, New York City, NY 10036, USA

  Mostrar afiliaciones +
• Localización: Journal of Optometry: peer-reviewed Journal of the Spanish General Council of Optometry, ISSN-e 1888-4296, Vol. 17, Nº. 1, 2024
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Purpose To report the retrospectively-based, clinical diagnostic findings for the horizontal, distance, fusional facility (DFF) test in the non-TBI (traumatic brain inury), ABI (acquired brain injury) population.

    Methods The DFF test (4 pd base-out/2 pd base-in) was assessed and compared retrospectively in the first author's optometric practice in three clinical populations: (1) post-mTBI, visually-symptomatic (n = 52), (2) post-ABI, non-mTBI, visually-symptomatic (n = 34), and (3) visually-normal, visually asymptomatic (n = 44).

    Results The DFF values in each group were significantly different from each other (p < 0.05). The mean non-TBI, ABI group value was significantly lower than found in the mTBI group, and both were significantly lower than the mean found in the normal cohort (p < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in DFF with increased age (p < 0.001). ROC values for the AUC ranged from excellent to acceptable (0.94–0.74).

    Conclusion The DFF test is a new and useful way to assess horizontal, distance, dynamic, fusional facility in those with presumed non-mTBI, ABI neurological conditions to assist in its diagnosis.