'''Hans-Joachim Haase''' (1915 – December 20, 2001) was a German clockmaker, optician and inventor, who became known for an apparatus for testing binocular vision and for the ''MKH method'', an alternative method intended to improve binocular vision using corrective lenses. This method, which is controversial, has mainly found application in German-speaking countries.
== {{anchor|Polatest}}Life == Born the son of an optician, Haase underwent formal training to be a clockmaker and an optician, and became a ''Meister''-optician in 1951.<ref name="ivbs-haase-biography">{{cite web | url=http://www.ivbs.org/ivbs/hans-joachim-haase/ | title=Hans-Joachim Haase | publisher=Internationale Vereinigung für Binokulares Sehen (IVBS) | accessdate=2015-04-12}}</ref>
From 1953 onwards he held a teaching position at the ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Staatliche Fachschule für Optik und Fototechnik|de}}'' (SFOF) in Berlin.<ref name="ivbs-haase-biography"/>
With an acute interest in binocular vision, Haase developed novel binocular vision testing methods based on the ''Turville infinity balance'' technique which had become known in Britain. He developed an apparatus for vision testing, which has since been built and sold by the Carl Zeiss company under the name ''Polatest''.<ref name="ivbs-haase-biography"/>
== {{anchor|MKH}}MKH method == Haase developed a method which is intended to improve binocular vision called the ''MKH method'' (short for: ''Mess- und Korrektionsmethodik nach H.-J. Haase''), which has become known in German-speaking countries in particular.
The method consists in a measurement of an alleged angular misalignment (referred to as ''associated phoria'' or ''hidden strabismus'', also called ''"{{Interlanguage link multi|Winkelfehlsichtigkeit|de}}"'' in German language) that is different from heterotropia or heterophoria, and involves the use of prisms for its correction. In the MKH method, this alleged misalignment is assessed by the ''Polatest'' apparatus and subsequently the patient is instructed to use prism glasses in daily life to correct for the alleged misalignment, with the prism glasses made according to the Polatest results. The MKH method claims to reduce eye strain-related symptoms. It has found some application in German-speaking countries and claims to achieve unimpaired binocular vision,<ref name=about>{{cite web | url=http://www.ivbs.org/information-in-english/ | title=About the International Association for Binocular Vision (IVBS) in English | publisher=Internationale Vereinigung für Binokulares Sehen (IVBS) | accessdate=2020-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first1=P. | last1=Niesel | first2=E. | last2=Stieger | title=Der Pola-Test bei asthenopischen Beschwerden - Ein Versuch zur Indikationsstellung für eine Behandlung|trans-title=The Pola-test in asthenopia | journal=Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde | date=April 1980 | volume=176 | number=4 | pages=572–576 |doi=10.1055/s-2008-1057505| pmid=7421032 | language=German}} With abstract in English</ref> however it has received little scientific recognition and is not accepted by mainstream medical practice, either internationally or in Germany.<ref>{{cite journal | first1=M. | last1=Kromeier | first2=C. | last2=Schmitt | first3=M. | last3=Bach | first4=G. | last4=Kommerell | title=Do prisms according to Hans-Joachim Haase improve stereoacuity? | language=German | journal=Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde | volume=219 | issue=6 | pages=422–8 | year=2002 | pmid=12136437 | doi=10.1055/s-2002-32883 | type=English abstract}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | first1=V. | last1=Schroth | first2=W. | last2=Jaschinski | title=Do prism corrections according to H.-J. Haase affect ocular prevalence? | language=German | journal=Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde | volume=224 | issue=1 | pages=32–9 | year=2007 | pmid=17260317 | doi=10.1055/s-2006-927268 | type=English abstract| url=https://zenodo.org/record/889796/files/article.pdf }}</ref> The method does not appear to show better results than conventional spectacle prescriptions,<ref>{{cite news | first1=G. | last1=Kommerell | first2=M. | last2=Kromeier | title=Prism correction in heterophoria | journal=Ophthalmologe | date=January 2002 | volume=99 | number=1 | pages=3–9 | pmid=11840793 | language=German}}</ref> and the practice of MKH has been criticized as contravening the rule to first do no harm.<ref>{{cite news | first1=N. | last1=Brügger | first2=R. | last2=Champion | first3=H. | last3=Flury-Cornelis | first4=G. | last4=Payer | first5=H. | last5=Payer | first6=B. | last6=Siegenthaler | first7=M. | last7=Starkermann | first8=B. | last8=Weisstanner | title=Wie notwendig sind Prismen? Verzicht auf Polatest-induziert fehlapplizierte Prismenbrillen in mehr als 70 Fällen | journal=Spektrum der Augenheilkunde | date=April 1995 | volume=9 | number=2 | pages=63–73 | language=German | doi=10.1007/bf03163758}}</ref> The German association of ophthalmologists ({{Interlanguage link multi|Berufsverband der Augenärzte Deutschlands|de}} (BVA)) issued a statement warning that the use of the MKH method could in fact lead to use of prisms of increasing strength, ultimately requiring the patient to undergo strabismus surgery that would have otherwise been unnecessary.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.augeninfo.de/presse/0103mkh.htm | title=Wenn die Brille krank macht.... | date=30 March 2001 | publisher=Berufsverband der Augenärzte Deutschlands e.V. (BVA) | language=German | accessdate=2013-07-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927101014/http://www.augeninfo.de/presse/0103mkh.htm | archive-date=27 September 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
The vision therapy approach that is widespread in the U.S. and which has led to recover stereopsis in a number of persons, most notably Susan R. Barry, is diametrically opposed to the use of prisms in the manner that is advocated in the MKH method. In particular, Frederick W. Brock spoke against the use of an amblyoscope during training, because in his view the patient needed to take the correct binocular posture (aiming the two eyes such that they simultaneously look at the same target in space) when fusing, otherwise the training would not be likely to succeed.<ref name="barry">{{cite news | first=Susan R. | last=Barry | url=http://www.stereosue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/The-Work-and-Wisdom-of-Dr.-Frederick-W.-Brock.pdf | title=The work and wisdom of Dr. Frederick W. Brock | journal=Journal of Behavioral Optometry | year=2011 | volume=22 | number=3 | pages=59–63 | access-date=2015-04-12 | archive-date=2021-09-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917092506/http://www.stereosue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/The-Work-and-Wisdom-of-Dr.-Frederick-W.-Brock.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In any case, tentative studies have been undertaken whether some synergy can be found between the U.S. approach to vision therapy and the German approach of MKH.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wvao.org/index.jsp?path=/pages/open_news/news/newsarchiv/doc867.xml;jsessionid=208751760EA0415860413076E9B6C934 | title=Synergieeffekt von Optometrie und Visualtraining mit Preis gewürdigt | publisher=Wissenschaftliche Vereinigung für Augenoptik und Optometrie (WVAO) | language=German | accessdate=2013-07-24 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Awards == Haase received the following awards:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wvao.org/index.jsp?path=/pages/open_news/news/newsarchiv/doc300.xml | title=Ehrenmitglied Hans-Joachim Haase verstorben | publisher=Wissenschaftliche Vereinigung für Augenoptik und Optometrie (WVAO) | language=German | accessdate=2015-04-12 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.euro-focus.de/index.php/netnews/comments/in-memorian-hans-joachim-haase | title=In Memorian Hans-Joachim Haase | work=www.euro-focus.de | accessdate=2015-04-12 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * ''Deutscher Preis für Optometrie'' (DGO) * Simon-Plössl-Medal (Austria) * Honorary award in gold of the ''Zentralverband der Augenoptiker''
The International Association for Binocular Vision (''Internationale Vereinigung für Binokulares Sehen'', IVBS) was created to further advance his MKH method.<ref name=about/> The association created a prize in his name that can be awarded since 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ivbs.org/ivbs/hans-joachim-haase-preis/ | title=Der Hans-Joachim-Haase-Preis | accessdate=2015-04-12 | language=German | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085408/http://www.ivbs.org/ivbs/hans-joachim-haase-preis/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
== Publications == *{{cite book | title=Zur Fixationsdisparation | first=Hans-Joachim | last=Haase | authorlink=Hans-Joachim Haase (optician) | publisher=Verlag Optische Fachveröffentlichung GmbH | location=Heidelberg, Germany | language=German | edition=2 (expanded reprint of article series 1980-1984)| date=1995 | orig-year=1980 | isbn=978-3-922269-17-5}} *{{cite book | title=Binokulare Korrektion - Methodik und Theorie | first=Hans-Joachim | last=Haase | authorlink=Hans-Joachim Haase (optician) | edition=Compilation of publications from 1957–1978 | date=1980 | publisher=Verlag Willy Schrickel | location=Düsseldorf | language=German | isbn=978-3-921405-10-9}} *{{cite book | first=Hans-Joachim | last=Haase | authorlink=Hans-Joachim Haase (optician) | title=Winkelfehlsichtigkeiten mit Fixationsdisparation - Erörterungen zur Theorie der Fixationsdisparation und zur Funktionsweise der notwendigen Teste für die Ermittlung binokularer Vollkorrektionen | publisher=Bode | location=Pforzheim | date=1999 | isbn=978-3-9800378-7-7}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.ivbs.org/ivbs/hans-joachim-haase/ Hans-Joachim Haase], International Association for Binocular Vision
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Haase, Hans-Joachim}} Category:German opticians Category:20th-century German inventors Category:1915 births Category:2001 deaths Category:Optical engineers