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Clear vision is crucial for daily life activities, including in academics, social, and professional settings. However, many people assume that as long as they have 20/20 vision and don't need glasses, they don't have any vision problems. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as between 2%-10% of the population experience difficulties with their visual system due to accommodative insufficiency.
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Accommodation is the ability of the eye to change focus when looking from a distant object to a near one, allowing us to see clearly at different distances. Accommodative insufficiency occurs when the eye has difficulty accurately focusing, making nearby objects appear blurry.
Accommodative insufficiency is the inability to accurately focus or sustain that focus, resulting in blurred vision, eye strain, headaches, and difficulty adjusting focus between different distances. This condition can have a negative impact on a child's learning or an adult's work performance, especially in today's digital age, where we spend extended periods looking at computer screens.
We'll delve into the details of accommodative insufficiency, including what it is, its symptoms, and how it affects performance at school and work.
There are two main types of accommodative insufficiency:
The inability to accurately focus on a near object, resulting in blurry vision.
The inability to sustain focus on a near object, causing intermittent blurry vision or eye strain.
Accommodative insufficiency can be challenging for people of all ages, especially children and those who spend extended periods looking at digital devices.
The symptoms of accommodative insufficiency are mainly associated with vision, and they include:
Accommodative insufficiency can have a negative impact on a child's learning or an adult's work performance. For example, if a child struggles with intermittent blurry vision, reading or writing can become difficult, resulting in decreased academic performance. Likewise, adults may suffer from headaches and eye strain after extended screen time, negatively impacting their work productivity.
Accommodative insufficiency can also affect the ability to sustain attention, leading to difficulties in following lectures or reading for extended periods. If left unchecked, this can result in a decrease in overall performance in school or at work.
Fortunately, there are treatment options available for accommodative insufficiency that can help improve vision and alleviate symptoms.
One of the most common and effective treatments for accommodative insufficiency is eyeglasses. Prescription glasses can help correct refractive errors and improve the eye's ability to focus on near objects. Depending on the severity of the condition, glasses with single or progressive lenses may be recommended. Single lenses correct either near or far-sightedness, while progressive lenses gradually change the prescription from the top to the bottom of the lens, allowing for clear vision at all distances.
Contact lenses can also be an effective treatment option for accommodative insufficiency. Depending on the patient's individual needs, either soft or rigid gas permeable contact lenses may be recommended. Contact lenses can help correct refractive errors and improve the eye's ability to focus on near objects.
Vision therapy is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment option that can be effective for treating accommodative insufficiency. This type of therapy involves a series of exercises and activities designed to improve visual skills, including accommodation, tracking, and binocular vision. Vision therapy is typically conducted by our vision therapist under the guidance of our trained optometrist and can take several months to complete.
Prism lenses are another treatment option for accommodative insufficiency. These lenses are designed to help align the eyes and improve binocular vision, which can reduce symptoms such as double vision and eye strain. Prism lenses can be added to eyeglasses or contact lenses and are often used in conjunction with vision therapy.
Atropine eye drops are a medication that can be used to treat accommodative insufficiency. These drops work by dilating the pupil and relaxing the muscles that control accommodation, which can improve the eye's ability to focus on near objects. Atropine eye drops are typically used as a short-term treatment and are not recommended for long-term use.
In rare cases, surgery may be recommended to treat accommodative insufficiency. This typically involves either altering the shape of the cornea or inserting an intraocular lens implant to correct refractive errors. Surgery is typically only recommended in severe cases that do not respond to other treatment options.
It is important to note that the best treatment option for accommodative insufficiency will depend on your needs and the severity of your condition. Additionally, practicing good eye habits such as taking frequent breaks when doing near work, maintaining proper lighting, and wearing appropriate eyewear can also help alleviate symptoms and improve visual function.
If you don’t already have a trusted optometrist or you live too far from our optometry clinic in Hixson, you could start your online search by typing in phrases such as "eye doctor near me," "vision therapy optometrist near me," or "eye specialist near me."
If you or your child is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it's essential to get an eye exam to identify any visual problems, including accommodative insufficiency. Early detection and treatment of accommodative insufficiency can improve academic performance and work productivity.
Contact our office at (423) 710 3965 to schedule an eye exam with our optometrist. We offer comprehensive eye exams to identify any visual problems and provide personalized treatment plans to help you or your child see clearly and perform well in school or at work.
Patients with functional vision issues visit our clinic from all over Tennessee, and we are proud to be a leading provider of functional vision services for patients from Hixson, Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Middle Valley.
Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.
Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.
Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.
Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.
Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.
He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.
It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.
Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!
Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.
Thank you!
Seems much less frustrated with life
Reads non-stop and fast
Spelling abilities have been hugely improved
Seems much more confident
Thank You!!!
When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!
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