After the patient’s eyes have been cheked by ophtalmologist and orthoptist or optometrist and if C.I. is the diagnostic, the therapist advices for the Diplo-D method.
The patient receives explainations and his learning program in fonction of his level at the bening.
We can divide the C.I. into Three main different levels of gravity: Mild, Medium or Acute C.I.
This classification is based on crucial elements found in the examination:
- The symptoms
- The near point of convergence (NPC)
- The positive fusional vergence by base out prism bar for near(convergence C ‘ )
- Intermittent suppression of one eye checked by Worth 4 dots test.
1st stage of the diplo-d method : Acute C.I: Receded NPC >10 cm and/or C ‘<15 prismatic dioptries and intermittent suppression.
The treatment instructions will be 2 weeks of homework at diplo-d with the maximum of help: minus lenses and red glass in low speed motion.
Diplo-D method exercises the eye muscles in the condition of binocular vision by the way of the physiological diplopia. The patient converges on a picture approaching his eyes in slow motion.
In the cases of very weak convergence, -3.00 lenses are added in the trial frame in the front part of the device, which is adaptable to any size of faces. The -3.00 lenses help the patient to converge by the syncinesy between convergence and accommodation.
If physiological diplopia isn’t reached or only by intermittence, we put red filter in front of one eye or the other, and this procedure helps the patient to see double a light situated in the background.
2nd stage of treatment: Medium level of gravity
If there is no suppression,but there is a difficulty to converge more than7 or 8 cm (receded CNP), only minus lenses will be used.
3rd stage of treatment: Mild degree
No suppression and CNP <6 cm.the patient can exercise without lenses or colored filter,in accordance of his improvement he can use the speed command and exercise in a faster mode.
Audio Feedback: Diplo-D method includes sounds which are built into the device recorder .An increased sound is heard while a picture is approaching the patient’s eyes (forward). The more it is approaching, the more the sound become faster in its frequency and sharper.
When the little picture is going back (reverse), the patient is looking far at the large picture, and can relax. Then, relaxing music and instructions are heared.
This repetitive eye exercise focusing with both eyes on an approaching and distancing target while hearing the the increasing sound at the very same time create a real learning process.
Frequency & follow up The patient should repeat this training for 5 minutes daily at least. Periodically, the patient goes and checks his eyes at the orthoptist’s clinic in order to receive directives about his treatment following, according to his improvement. The checking’s frequency depends on the level of the patient, and the program is adapted to each case individually.