The Pulfrich phenomenon was first described by von Pulfrich in 1922. It can occur with a number of conditions.
Pulfrich’s phenomenon occurs when neural transmission from one eye is delayed relative to the other (latency). The patient perceives a moving object to follow a pathway different from the one that it is actually following. For example, a pendulum swinging in the frontal plane may look like it is following an elliptical trajectory.
In a normal person this can be demonstrated if a neutral filter is held in front of one eye and the person looks at a moving object with both eyes (binocular).
Differential diagnosis of the Pulfrich phenomenon:
(1) age-related macular degeneration
(2) anisocoria
(3) anisometric amblyopia
(4) cataract
(5) central serous retinopathy
(6) corneal opacity
(7) hemianopia
(8) multiple sclerosis
(9) optic neuritis
(10) status post repair of retinal detachment
(11) facial trauma
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