Watzke-Allen test | |
---|---|
Purpose | diagnosis of full thickness macular hole |
Watzke-Allen test (WAT) also known as Watzke-Allen slit beam test (WASBT) is a test used in the diagnosis of a macular hole, a condition affecting the macular region in the retina of the eye. The test is done by projecting a thin line of light over the macula with a slit lamp.
Watzke-Allen test is a test used in the diagnosis of a macular hole. It is a subjective test based on photoreceptor ( cone cell) displacement. [1]
Test can be used to differentiate full thickness macular hole from other similar conditions and also to assess retinal function after surgical closure of the hole. [2] [3]
Watzke-Allen test is done by projecting a thin line of light over the macula with a slit lamp. [4] A fundus lens or macular lens is used to aim beam of light on the macula. [5] It is best performed in a dilated eye, projecting a slit beam of approximately 100 μm. The slit is projected in both vertical and horizontal orientations. [6] The patient is asked to describe whether the light line is straight or narrow or has a gap (break). A straight line indicates an intact fovea where as narrow or gapped line indicate macular holes. [7] A narrowing indicates isolated, damaged but functional foveal receptors. [7] Patient may be asked to draw what he sees. [6]
The advantages of WAT are its availability, affordability, easy to perform and ability to be used through relatively opaque media, which can help overcome the limitations of spectral-domain OCT, however, it is not known whether the measurements recorded by WAT reflect the true extent of photoreceptor displacement. [6] [1]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)