Potential Preventive Effects of a New Visual Intervention for Accommodative Insufficiency and Asthenopia due to Sustained Near Task

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to experimentally investigate whether a new visual intervention with optical and binocular vergence demands prevents accommodative insufficiency and asthenopia after sustained periods of visual task. Methods: Fourteen female students were given the intervention with optical and binocular vergence demands for 1.5 min immediately after 20 min of a sustained task on a three-dimensional display. Before and after the trial, their ocular functions were measured and their symptoms assessed. A new type of intervention was developed that can vary optical and binocular vergence demands. For control, the subjects rested with eyes closed for 1.5 min after the task instead of the intervention. Results: In the control group, accommodative contraction time (from far to near) and accommodative relaxation time (from near to far) was delayed from 1.13 to 1.68 s and from 1.36 to 1.60 s, respectively, and the symptom of asthenopia increased after rest. In the intervention group, however, changes in those functions were smaller than those in the control group. Conclusions: These results suggest that the new intervention with optical and binocular vergence demands is effective for the treatment of accommodative insufficiency that follows sustained periods of visual task, and consequently, the symptom of asthenopia induced by accommodative insufficiency may decrease.

Is it possible to relate accommodative visual dysfunctions to neck pain?

“…Given the relationship between both systems, visual and cervical, it would be an option in future research to propose an intervention through a visual therapy program in subjects with accommodative dysfunctions and neck pain because visual therapy has proven to be a useful treatment option in subjects with accommodative anomalies, and assess whether there are changes in possible neck dysfunctions. Regarding the limitations of our study, it is important to emphasize the small sample size, which should make us carefully consider the results presented.…”

<p>Accommodative Insufficiency: Prevalence, Impact and Treatment Options</p>

“…Various studies have shown high correlations between asthenopic symptoms and AI. 9 , 12 , 34 A Swedish school children-based study examining 216 children of grades 1–8 reported asthenopic symptoms among 23.1%, of which 11.1% had abnormal near point of accommodation. Earlier studies in children with lower accommodative amplitudes showed that the subjects had severe difficulty reading near text for long hours, diplopia and severe asthenopic symptoms.…”

Accommodation Paralysis after Pheniramine Maleate Injection: A Case Report

“…2,3 Systemic, neurological, and local ocular pathologies can cause accommodative insufficiency. Head trauma, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, encephalopathies, meningitis, midbrain pathology, subdural haematoma, pharmacological and toxic agents, viral infections, diabetes, botulism, diphtheria, and oculomotor nerve palsy are among causes of accommodation insufficiency.…”