Skip to main content
Log in

Accommodative dysfunction

  • Published:
Documenta Ophthalmologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A retrospective review of the records of 114 subjects with accommodative dysfunction has been completed. Most subjects (N = 96) were found to have accommodative insufficiency. Lesser numbers of subjects were categorized in the class of infacility of accommodation (N = 14), spasm of accommodation (N = 3) and fatigue of accommodation (N = 1). A majority of the subjects presented with complaints of blur, headaches and/or asthenopia while attempting nearwork. Most subjects presented with reduced abilities in one or more of the following areas: accommodative amplitude and facility, fusional vergences, near point of convergence and stereo acuities. The clinical characteristics of the group as a whole and the major subgroups have been examined both before and after treatment of the condition with orthoptic exercises and/or plus lenses at the nearpoint. The result of the treatment indicates that although most subjects (96%) experienced some relief with treatment only about half (53%) had their problems totally solved. The importance of these findings is briefly discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander G (1940) Spasm of Accommodation. Trans Ophthal Soc UK 60:207–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpers B and Palmer H (1929) The cerebral and spinal complications occurring during pregnancy and the puerperium. J Nerv Ment Dis 70:465–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson M (1961) Orthoptic treatment of loss of convergence and accommodation caused by road accidents (“Whiplash” injury). Brit Orthopt J 18:117–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Berens C (1929) An accommodation ergograph. Trans Amer Acad Ophthal Otolaryng 34:472–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Berens C, Connolly P and Kern D (1933) Certain motor anomalies of the eye in relation to prescribing lenses. Amer J Ophthal 16:199–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Berens C, and Sells S (1944) Experimental studies on fatigue of accommodation I. Arch Ophthal 31:148–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Berens C and Stark E (1932a) Studies in ocular fatigue III. Amer J Ophthal 15:216–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Berens C and Stark E (1932b) Studies in ocular fatigue IV. Amer J Ophthal 15:527–542

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein F and Bernstein M (1945) Law of physiologic aging as derived from long range data on refraction of the human eye. Arch Ophthal 34:378–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Blatt N (1931) Weakness of accommodation. Arch Ophthal 5:362–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Borish I (1970) Clinical Refraction 3rd ed. Chicago, Professional Press pp 149–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Brownell M (1941) Paresis of accommodation due to dental caries. Arch Ophthal 26:1057–1058

    Google Scholar 

  • Donders FC (1864) On the Anomalies of Accommodation and Refraction of the Eye. London, The New Sydenham Society

    Google Scholar 

  • Duane A (1916) Anomalies of accommodation clinically considered. Arch Ophthal 45:124–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Duane A (1922) Studies in monocular and binocular accommodation with their clinical applications. Amer J Ophthal 5:865–877

    Google Scholar 

  • Duane A (1925) Subnormal accommodation. Arch Ophthal 54:566–587

    Google Scholar 

  • Duane A (1931) Accommodation, Arch Ophthal 5:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Duke-Elder S (ed) (1970) System of Ophthalmology, Vol V Ophthalmic Optics and Refraction. St Louis, Mosby, pp 451–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferree C (1914) The efficiency of the eye under different systems of lighting. Ophthalmology (Seattle) 10:622–637

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould G (1905) Premature presbvopia. Amer Med 9:103–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin J (1976) Binocular Anomalies: Procedures for Vision Therapy. Chicago, Professional Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammerburg E and Norn M (1972) Defective dissociation of accommodation and convergence in dyslectic children. Acta Ophthal 50:651–654

    Google Scholar 

  • Helwig J and Council K (ed) (1979 edition) SAS User's Guide, SAS Institute, Inc. Cary, North Carolina

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstetter H (1942) Factors involved in low amplitude cases. Amer J Optom Arch Amer Acad Optom 19:279–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstetter H (1943) An ergographic analysis of fatigue of accommodation. Amer J Optom Arch Amer Acad Optom 20:115–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe L (1916) The fatigue of accommodation as registered by the ergograph. J Amer Med Ass 67:100–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe L (1917) On varieties of the fatigue of accommodation as registered by the ergograph. Trans Amer Ophthal Soc 15:145–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Irvine G (1947) A study of esophoria and ciliary spasm. Brit J Ophthal 31:289–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster W and Williams E (1914) New light on the theory of accommodation, with practical applications. Trans Amer Acad Ophthal Otolaryng 19:170–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieppman M (1981) Accommodative and convergence insufficiency after decompression sickness. Arch Ophthal 99:453–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Lee M, Jang J, Ciuffreda K, Wong J, Grisham D and Stark L (1979) Objective assessment of accommodation orthoptics I. Dynamic insufficiency. Amer J Optom Physiol Opt 56:285–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Manson N and Stern G (1965) Defects of near vision in myasthenia gravis. Lancet 1:935–937

    Google Scholar 

  • Marlow F (1922) Persistent accommodative spasm due to latent hyperphoria. Arch Ophthal 51:223–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathur J and Vaithilingam E (1970) Accommodative insufficiency and anaemia. Optician 160:396–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris C (1959) A theory concerning adaptation to accommodative impairment. Optometric Weekly 50:255–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Prakash P, Agarwal L and Nag S (1972) Accommodational weakness and convergence insufficiency. Orient Arch Ophthal 10:261–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Prangen A (1922) Spasm of accommodation with report of 30 cases. Transactions of the section on Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association of the 82nd Annual Session, AMA Press, pp 282–292

  • Prangen A (1931) Subnormal accommodation. Arch Ophthal 6:906–918

    Google Scholar 

  • Prangen A (1937) Some problems and procedures in refraction. Arch Ophthal 18:432–447

    Google Scholar 

  • Slataper F (1950) Age norms of refraction and vision. Arch Ophthal 43:466–481

    Google Scholar 

  • Sollam A (1966) Unilateral spasm of accommodation and transient convergent squint due to an anxiety neurosis. Brit Orth J 23:118–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumner P (1921) Subnormal accommodation: the result of focal infection. Amer J Ophthal 4:356–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Theobald S (1894) Some typical cases of “subnormal accommodative power”. Trans Amer Ophthal Soc 7:138–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Thal L, Phillips S and Stark L (1977) Paralysis of accommodation in infectious mononucleosis. Amer J Optom Physiol Opt 54:19–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker J and Tomlinson A (1974) An investigation of persistent paresis of accommodation. Amer J Optom Physiol Opt 51:3–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Veasey D (1919) Paralysis of accommodation. Trans Amer Ophthal Soc 17:440–441

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkov V and Kolesnikova L (1972) Treatment of an accommodative spasm with no immediate association with the weakness of the ciliary muscles. Vestn Oftal 1:50–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Noorden G, Brown D and Parks M (1973) Associated convergence and accommodative insufficiency. Docum Ophthal 34:393–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker J (1946) Myopia and pseudo-myopia. Brit J Ophthal 30:735–742

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh F and Hoyt W (1969) Clinical Neuro-ophthalmology, 3rd ed. Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins, pp 544–551

    Google Scholar 

  • Westcott V (1943) Concerning the accommodation before and after head injury. Illinois Med J 183:170–172

    Google Scholar 

  • White J (1921) Paralysis of acommodation following a peritonsillar abscess. Amer J Ophthal 4:276–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilmer W and Berens C (1918) V, The effect of altitude on ocular functions. J Amer Med Ass 71:1394–1398

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood D (1920) Accommodative failure in malaria and influenze. Brit J Ophthal 4:415–416

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Daum, K.M. Accommodative dysfunction. Doc Ophthalmol 55, 177–198 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00140808

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00140808

Key words

Navigation