Vestibular Diagnostic Technology Testing with Infrared Goggles
WWS Physical Therapy and Vestibular Rehabilitation’s clinic has a few critical pieces of technology in vestibular rehabilitation diagnosis. Appropriate and accurate diagnostic testing is essential for people with dizziness and balance problems. This technology enables us to accurately diagnose patients, guide our treatment, and help people get the right answers and solutions to their dizziness. We pride ourselves in staying at the forefront of vestibular diagnostic technology better to serve our patients with the highest standard of care.
Wendy Webb Schoenewald PT, OCS, examining a patient using Micromedical infrared goggles
Infrared Video Goggles
These are goggles that the patient wears over their eyes, much like ski or snorkeling goggles. The goggles use active infrared camera technology to show a video of the person’s eyes on a computer screen.
The infrared video goggles allow the therapist to see a patient’s eyes in better detail while the patient is in the dark which eliminates their ability to fixate their gaze on anything that might override their eye movements. In this way, the goggles reveal eye movements that wouldn’t otherwise be detected in normal room light. In positional testing for BPPV, the use of infrared goggles is critical for knowing the correct maneuver to employ and its effectiveness at repositioning the otoconia to resolve the vertigo.
This technology is useful in the diagnosis of many vestibular conditions. It can be used in differential diagnosis to visualize and record nystagmus that can be caused by vestibular neuritis, Vestibular Migraine, BPPV, Meniere’s disease, or brain related causes.
We have 4 different types of Infrared goggles that we use frequently in testing and treatment of vestibular and balance conditions which can help us adjust to unique patient needs.
Dr. Gregory Synnestved PT, DPT using Insight Infrared Video Goggles by Vestibular First
Below is a video example of eye movements seen with infrared goggles during position testing for BPPV: Up beating, right torsional nystagmus seen in the right Dix-Hallpike position suggesting right posterior canalithiasis BPPV.
WWS Physical Therapy and Vestibular Rehabilitation
1456 Ferry Road, Unit 601
Doylestown, PA. 18901
(215) 489-3234
