The prevalence of vergence accommodation disorders in a school‐age population

Abstract

There is a substantial void in the literature of studies that examine the prevalence of non‐strabismic binocular disorders in the population. Using contemporary vergence accommodation criteria this study set out to classify the binocular status of school‐age patients presenting for initial examination in an optometric practice. Seventy‐seven per cent of those presenting had a significant vergence or accommodation disorder on the basis of the stated criteria, and disorders at near made up 90 per cent of the disorders detected. Disorders of accommodation effected 57 per cent of the sample and vergence disorders 58 per cent. Analysis of presenting complaint was not of predictive value in determining whether an anomaly was present, nor was it helpful in predicting which type of anomaly. Hyperopia, astigmatism and anisometropia were however more likely to be associated with a vergence accommodation disorder. Distribution of fixation disparity (FDC) curve types for this clinical population is presented together with some evidence to suggest a distinct sub‐ group within Type 1 responses.

Key words:

• prevalence of vergence‐accommodation disorders
• components of accommodative dysfunction
• distribution of Fixation disparity curve types
• vergence‐accommodation dysfunction in a school‐age population
• refractive error and vergence accommodation dysfunction