Final answer:
Monocular fixation can be evaluated with tests for conjugate gaze, convergence, and the accommodation-convergence reflex. These tests assess the coordination of eye movements and the ability to maintain a stable gaze.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three tests for monocular fixation specifically intended to assess the coordination and control of eye movements include:
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- Tracking a visual target, such as the tip of a pen, through the visual field without moving the eyes. This tests for conjugate gaze and internuclear ophthalmoplegia.
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- Assessing how the eye muscles bring both eyes inward towards the nose as an object comes closer, which is referred to as convergence.
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- Evaluation of the accommodation-convergence reflex, where coordination of skeletal muscles for convergence and coordination of smooth muscles for accommodation are tested as a visual target approaches the face, necessitating a change in the shape of the lens.
These tests are vital in diagnosing issues with the extraocular muscles and associated neural pathways such as the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves, as well as the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF). They are also linked to the ability to maintain stable gaze through the vestibulo-ocular reflex.
Learn more about Monocular Fixation Tests