| This
description of the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test
posted by Florida DUI Lawyer
. *
Parks
& Braxton, your best resource for a Florida
DUI Lawyer, wants you to be well informed.
Here is a basic description of the Horizontal
gaze nystagmus test:
- The
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test is not a test
of vision but it is imperative that the suspect
have vision in both eyes in order to be able
to follow the stimulus so that an accurate scoring
of this test can be made. The suspect is instructed
to keep the head still and straight while following
the stimulus until told to stop. In order to
prevent a movement of the subject's head during
testing, a person is instructed to place both
fists together under their chin to act as a
brace against this.
- The
stimulus must be twelve to fifteen inches in
front of the suspect's eyes for ease of focus.
The subjects eyes must be checked for the ability
to track together. The stimulus is moved across
the subject's entire field of vision, all the
way to the right and back again all the way
to the left. It should take two seconds out
and two seconds back. At least two passes must
be made for each eye and each clue. The officer
must check to see if the eyes track the stimulus
together or if one lags behind. If the eyes
do not track the stimulus together, it could
indicate a possible medical disorder, injury
or blindness. They must then check to see if
both pupils are if equal size. If they are not
then there is a probability of a head injury.
The stimulus is held in the middle of the face
when checking the pupil size.
- The
officer is trained to receive an acknowledgement
from the suspect that the stimulus is at a comfortable
distance from the suspect's eyes and to document
same. This can be accomplished by having them
touch the stimulus with their finger.
*
This material is for informational purposes only.
If you want to know how the SFST tests affect
you, please contact Florida
DUI Lawyers, Parks &
Braxton
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