Stress Relieving Prescriptions for Increased Performance
Without even thinking about it, our eyes change focus very quickly to allow us to see clearly wherever we look. This process is called accommodation. All of the things we see are at different distances, which forces our visual system to work and change to make them clear. Accommodative dysfunction occurs when there is an issue with efficiency, accuracy, ease or speed of our focusing system.
Accommodative Dysfunction in Children
Normally, children have an ample amount of focusing capacity. However, some children do not have the ability to maintain focus for a long time while reading or they may be unable to quickly change the focus of their eyes from near to distance, especially in the classroom. With the increasing near demands of today, our visual system can undergo tremendous stress. Students now read three times the number of books their parents did and many schools are assigning each student a tablet.
Accommodative Dysfunction in Adults
Adults can also have accommodative dysfunction. However, this is not to be confused with a very common condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia is the term for age-related focusing problems. In adults, this is due to loss of the natural elasticity of the lens inside the eyes. This begins in the early 40s and happens to everyone. As we age and the lens becomes less flexible, we begin to experience blurred vision up close.
Common Symptoms of Accommodative Dysfunction:
These are some of the symptoms indicating stress in your visual system. Many people who report these symptoms have 20/20 vision in the distance but can’t handle the visual stress associated with near asks. It is very common for students to experience some of these difficulties.
- Blurred vision
- Reduced efficiency and productivity
- Difficulty maintaining clear vision — words coming in and out of focus
- Needing to blink to make things clear
- Difficulty changing focus from one distance to another or blurred vision at distance after you look up from sustained near work
- Visual discomfort and eye strain
- Pain behind or around the eyes
- Headaches, nausea or stomachaches
- Avoidance of reading and writing
- Doing as little near work as possible
- Difficulty with concentration and attention
- Fatigue or even falling asleep when reading
- Homework takes longer to complete than it should
- Words doubling
- Moving print
Available Treatments
In many cases, glasses for near use only or bifocals may be needed. These anti-fatigue lenses help decrease stress to the visual system and increase comfort for the duration of various near tasks (reading or studying, computer work, tablet and phone use, etc.) by decreasing the amount of effort needed to focus.
Ask us about anti-fatigue lenses!
Ask our optometrists about anti-fatigue lenses to ensure optimal performance throughout the entire day. The lenses provide significant relief from stress related symptoms and the eyes become more relaxed resulting in improvements in eye comfort, visual efficiency, and even better reading and retention skills. Improved focusing ability can be developed through a program of Vision Therapy.
For more information, schedule a complimentary visual performance screening! If you have any questions regarding treatments for improved visual performance, contact your Highline Optometrist for advice.