Common Vision Conditions Affecting Children
Accommodation
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Accommodation is the eye's ability to adjust its optical power in order to maintain a clear image or focus objects at various distances. Accurate accommodation is essential in accomplishing clear, undistorted vision when viewing objects at different distances. A child with poor accommodative ability may have difficulty focusing on objects in order to see them clearly. To view something at a close distance, a person must accommodate. In order to return to viewing a distant object, accommodation must be relaxed. Some common vision conditions involving accommodation include: - Overaccommodation = Accommodating too much. - Underaccommodation = Not accommodating enough. - Accommodative Spasm = Inability of the eye to relax accommodation    after viewing a near object resulting in blurred distance vision. - Accommodative Palsy = Inability to focus the eyes for near objects. - Accommodative Effort Syndrome = Eyestrain or blurred vision resulting    from excessive focusing effort of the eye to view near objects. - Accommodative Infacility = Inability to accommodate and relax    accommodation at a normal rate when changing fixation between    near and distance objects. - Accommodative Esotropia = Excessive inward turning (towards nose)    of the eyes caused by an overactive response to the accommodation    neccessary to keep near objects clear. Accommodation conditions can often be successfully treated with a vision therapy program or the use of plus lenses. Plus lenses or bifocal add lenses decrease the demand on the eye's accommodative system. Some signs of an accommodative problems or poor accommodation in a child may include: - Squinting or frequent closing of the eyes. - Excessive rubbing or touching of the eyes. - Frequent headaches or fatigue. - Complaints of eye strain or blurred vision. - Appearance of misaligned or crossed-eyes when focusing.