The Brock String

The humble Brock consists of a length of string (from 3 to 10 ft) with a series of beads (from 3 to 5 beads) placed at various intervals. This simple instrument is powerful tools in teaching binocular vision skills.  While the configurations vary, it is elegantly simple and effective in teaching the brain how to make the eyes convergence.

How the use a Brock string

The 3 ft string is generally sufficient unless working with an athlete then a longer string may be needed. Four or five beads make for enough targets to be useful.

1. With the beads evenly spaced (closest bead at about 2cm, furthest about 40 cm), have the patient hold one end of brock string to their nose.
2. The therapist holds the string tight and angled slightly downward.
3. Have the patient fixate on one of the further beads to begin. The patient should see one bead (indicating focus to a single point) and two strings meeting at the front of the bead (indicating both eyes are working together. It should look like the picture below.
4.  Have the patient alternate from bead to bead, working closer and back to exercise the convergence muscles. Look for difficulty with maintaining the fixation as the muscle fatigue.

Here is the video about the Brock String.

Why does this work?

The Brock string takes advantage of “physiologic diplopia”. The eyes can only focus clearly on a single point with all other things within the viewing area seen as double. This is a normal way for our eyes to work. The Brock string uses this physiologic diplopia to inform the brain that the eyes are working together correctly.

Remember, before the brock string, check for full extraocular movements and exercise the eyes separately.

Brock strings are easy to make and make a great home program addition.

The Brock String as Ocular Motor Multi-tool

The brock is a staple of vision therapy but its useful for so much more than convergence and divergence activities. Dr. Charles Boulet and Robert Constantine, OTR\L have a great resource to teach you just how useful this simple tool can be.

Get supplies to make your own Brock Strings here

Vision Mechanic.Net has some great videos and articles produced by Dr. Charles Boulet and Robert Constantine, Occupational therapist.