Relationship of accommodative response and nearpoint phoria in a sample of myopic children

Optom Vis Sci. 1999 May;76(5):292-4. doi: 10.1097/00006324-199905000-00016.

Abstract

Esophoria has been associated with onset and progression of myopia in children. The induction of myopia by optical defocus shown by animal models suggests that a high lag of accommodation during near work may contribute to myopia in children. This paper examines the relationship of nearpoint phoria and accommodative response in a sample of children with myopia. Accommodative response was measured under binocular conditions with the Canon Autoref R-1 autorefractor with a 40 cm viewing distance. Phorias were measured with the von Graefe method using a 40 cm test distance. In the statistical analysis exophoria was scored as a negative number and esophoria was scored as a positive number. The coefficient of correlation of accommodative response with phoria was -0.32 (n = 73; p<0.01), thus showing an association of a more positive (more convergent) near phoria with lower accommodative response. The correlation coefficient increased to -0.39 when an exponential function was used. When only esophores were considered, the correlation coefficient was -0.59 (n = 44; p<0.001). Lower accommodative response (higher lag of accommodation) was associated with greater esophoria.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accommodation, Ocular*
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Myopia / complications
  • Myopia / physiopathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Refraction, Ocular
  • Risk Factors
  • Strabismus / complications
  • Strabismus / physiopathology*