Comparison of fixation disparity curve variables measured with the Sheedy Disparometer and the Wesson Fixation Disparity Card

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest differences in the fixation disparity curves obtained with the Sheedy Disparometer and the Wesson Fixation Disparity Card, the two most commonly used methods for measuring fixation disparity. In one study the investigators proposed that the differences do not exist for subgroups divided by phoria. The purpose of this paper is to try to clarify this issue by use of two large sets of data. METHODS: Dissociated phorias were measured by the von Graefe method. Fixation disparity curves were plotted using the Disparometer and the Wesson card. RESULTS: Type I fixation disparity curves were most common with the Wesson card. Type II curves were found more often with the Disparometer than with the Wesson card. The x-intercepts were shifted in the base-in (BI) direction with the Wesson card compared to the Disparometer. The y-intercepts were shifted in the exo direction with the Wesson card compared to the Disparometer. The differences were statistically significant regardless of whether the dissociated phoria was exo or eso. The slope of the fixation disparity curve was steeper with the Wesson card than with the Disparometer. The difference was statistically significant for exophores but not for esophores. The differences between results obtained with the two instruments are not consistent from one subject to another as shown by high standard deviations of the differences. CONCLUSIONS: The fixation disparity curves measured with these two instruments are different. Fixation disparity parameters obtained from one of these instruments cannot be used with normative findings from the other.