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Authors
Scheiman, Mitchell; Cotter, Susan; Kulp, Marjean Taylor; Mitchell, G. Lynn; Cooper, Jeffrey; Gallaway, Michael; Hopkins, Kristine B.; Bartuccio, Mary; Chung, Ida

Treatment of Accommodative Dysfunction in Children: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

publication date
June 27, 2011
Category
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Abstract/Introduction

Purpose

To report the effectiveness of various forms of vision therapy/orthoptics in improving accommodative `amplitude and facility in children with symptomatic convergence insufficiency (CI) and co-existing accommodative dysfunction.

 

Methods

In a randomized clinical trial, 221 children aged 9 to 17 years with symptomatic CI were assigned to one of four treatments. Of the enrolled children, 164 (74%) had accommodative dysfunction; 63 (29%) had a decreased amplitude of accommodation with respect to age, 43 (19%) had decreased accommodative facility, and 58 (26%) had both. Analysis of variance models were used to compare mean accommodative amplitude and accommodative facility for each treatment group after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment.


Conclusion/Results

Results

After 12 weeks of treatment, the increases in amplitude of accommodation [office-based vergence/accommodative therapy with home reinforcement group (OBVAT) 9.9 D, home-based computer vergence/accommodative therapy group (HBCVAT+) 6.7 D, and home-based pencil push-up therapy group (HBPP) 5.8 D] were significantly greater than in the office-based placebo therapy (OBPT) group (2.2 D) (p-values ≤0.010). Significant increases in accommodative facility were found in all groups (OBVAT: 9 cpm, HBCVAT+: 7 cpm, HBPP: 5 cpm, OBPT: 5.5 cpm); only the improvement in the OBVAT group was significantly greater than that found in the OBPT group (p = 0.016). One year after completion of therapy, reoccurrence of decreased accommodative amplitude was present in only 12.5% and accommodative facility in only 11%.

 

Conclusions. 

Vision therapy/orthoptics is effective in improving accommodative amplitude and accommodative facility in school-aged children with symptomatic CI and accommodative dysfunction.


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