The Effects of the Tranquilizers on Heterophoria

ABSTRACT

In 54 cases with heterophoria, the effects of the tranquilizers were studied. The minimum doses of two kinds of tranquilizers i.e., phenothiazine derivative (chlorpromazine) and benzodiazepine derivative (oxazepam) were given for 3 days. The results were as follows 1. In 18 cases (43%) of the 30 cases who complained asthenopia, the symptom was relieved to some extent. The improvement of the symptom occurred with decrease in the Jateral phoria in 13 cases, and with increase in fusional amplitude in 13 cases. 2, There were no changes in the lateral phoria in 31 cases (59%) at distance, but at near, in 27 cases (52%) there was decrease in the lateral phoria. The amount of the increment or decrement in prism diopters was somewhat larger at near than at distance, and also somewhat larger in cases, in which the initial lateral phoria before medication is high, than in the cases with low initial lateral phoria. 3, There were no changes in the fusional amplitude in 24 cases (46%) at distance, but at near, in 28 cases (55 %) there was the increase in fusional amplitude. The changes in the amount of the increment or decrement in the fusional al1}plitude were similar to that of the changes in the amount in lateral phoria. 4, There were no remarkable changes in vertical phorias. 5. In exophoria there were no remarkable differences between subjects given chlorpromazine and those gIven oxazepam.