Hyperphoria and the Prologed Occlusion Test

Abstract

As a measure of hgperphoria the prolonged occlusion test is declared unsound because there is a marheil tendencg for the occludeil ege to deoiate upwards. Tuenlg-nine cases are cited.The tendency of the eyes to turn upward, or upward and outward, when closed as .:r sleep or in the early stages of anaesthesia has been known as Bell's phenomenon. Recently Abrahaml reinvestigated this phenomenon and concluded that it was essentially . plctective mechanism and belonged to the group of instinctive reflexes. He states that ':ractically all individuals show a typical Bell's phenomenon, and that a tendency toward this protective. turning is also noted when the eye is simply shielded or when in darkness '.vithout fixation.