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Distance doubling visual acuity test: A reliable test for nonorganic visual loss

  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To determine the value of the distance doubling visual acuity test in the diagnosis of nonorganic visual loss in a comparative observational case series.

Methods

Twenty-one consecutive patients with nonorganic visual acuity loss and 21 subjects with organic visual loss as controls were included. Best corrected visual acuity was tested at the normal distance of 5 meters using Landolt Cs. The patient was then repositioned and best corrected visual acuity was tested with the previous optotypes at double the distance via a mirror.

Results

Nonorganic visual acuity loss was identified in 21 of 21 patients. Sensitivity and specificity of distance-doubling visual acuity test in functional visual loss were found to be 100% (CI; 83%–100%) and 100% (CI; 82%–100%), respectively.

Conclusion

Distance doubling visual acuity test is widely used to detect nonorganic visual loss. Our results show that this test has a high specificity and sensitivity to detect nonorganic visual impairment.

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Funding

The study was partly funded by the OPOS Foundation, Stiftung zugunsten von Wahrnehmungsbehinderten, St. Gallen, Switzerland

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology and Strabismology, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Sebastian Martin Zinkernagel & Daniel Stephane Mojon

  2. University of Bern, Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland

    Daniel Stephane Mojon

Authors
  1. Sebastian Martin Zinkernagel
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  2. Daniel Stephane Mojon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Stephane Mojon.

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Zinkernagel, S.M., Mojon, D.S. Distance doubling visual acuity test: A reliable test for nonorganic visual loss. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 247, 855–858 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-1019-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-1019-9

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