Peripheral Ring Chart Fixation
Purpose: To develop the ability to maintain central vision while being aware of the periphery
Apparatus: Shapiro red ring target with numbers, two 3 x 5 cards used as occluders, red-green anaglyph glasses
Method:
PHASE I
1. Mount Shapiro red ring target at eye level on wall.
Instruct patient to:
2. Stand anywhere from five to 10 inches away from the target.
3. Hold occluder cards in each hand and alternately cover each eye for one second while looking directly at the center dot.
4. As he switches cards from one eye to the other, he should try to see the dot in one place, then try to eliminate or reduce the sideways movement of the dot.
PHASE II
1. Same as above except the rhythm with the cards should be: Right eye exposed one second; left eye covered one second. Reverse: Left eye exposed one second, right eye covered one second. Then, both eyes open one second. Repeat rhythm. (In summary, see with right eye, then left eye, then both eyes. Repeat in rhyth,.)
PHASE III
1. Same as Phase I or II, but use red-green anaglyph glasses. Goal same as above, but see the lustre and color changes.
Aspects to be Emphasized:
1. When target seems to move from side to side, have patient alter his posture in one of these two ways:
a. Keep body straight, with feet flat on the floor. Rotate feet inward until his toes touch, with heels apart. Do about 10 knee bends rhythmically. This will give the feeling that the entire body is assisting in an inward thrust.
b. Keep body straight with feet flat on the floor. Rotate toes outward, with heels touching. Also rotate shoulders upward and backward. Arch the lower back. Do about 10 bends rhythmically. This will give the feeling that then entire body is assisting in an outward thrust.
2. Be aware of the muscles of the entire body.
3. Be aware of the relationship between posture changes and the stability of center dot on the target.
4. Be aware of the central and peripheral areas of the target as activities are undertaken.
