MONTENARE EYE CARE
& VISION THERAPY
Accommodation
Accommodation is the ability to change focus from a distant to a near target (and vice versa). It is a complex process in which the crystalline lens (i.e. the "camera lens" positioned on the inside of the eye) alters its shape to bring an object into focus.
Function
Accommodation allows one to quickly bring a distant or near target into sharp focus.
Accommodative Infacility
Accommodative infacility is a condition in which the eyes have difficulty shifting focus from a distant to a near target (and vice versa). Some people like to think of it as a "poorly working camera" that takes several seconds to come into focus.
Accommodative infacility may be functional in nature, in which the child fails to develop normal eye focusing abilities. It may also be due to acquired brain injury such as in a concussion. In both cases, vision therapy is the treatment of choice. In some cases, however, accommodative infacility may be due to organic causes such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), or a pineal tumor and would require the consult of an ophthalmologist or neurologist.
Signs and Symptoms
These symptoms are generally related to the use of the eyes for reading or other close work:
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Blurred vision, particularly when looking from near to far or far to near
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Headaches
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Eyestrain
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Reading problems
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Fatigue and sleepiness
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Loss of comprehension over time
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A pulling sensation around the eyes
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Movement of the print
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Avoidance of reading and other close work
Treatment
Vision therapy is the treatment of choice for accommodative infacility. A therapy program should emphasize the ability to stimulate and relax one's eye focus and its ability to integrate with vergence ("eye teaming") and oculomotor ("eye tracking") skills.