Changes in stimulus and response AC/A ratio with vision therapy in Convergence Insufficiency

Purpose To evaluate the changes in the stimulus and response Accommodative Convergence to Accommodation (AC/A) ratio following vision therapy (VT) in Convergence Insufficiency (CI). Methods Stimulus and response AC/A ratio were measured on twenty five CI participants, pre and post 10 sessions of VT. Stimulus AC/A ratio was measured using the gradient method and response AC/A ratio was calculated using modified Thorington technique with accommodative responses measured using WAM-5500 open-field autorefractor. The gradient stimulus and response AC/A cross-link ratios were compared with thirty age matched controls. Results Mean age of the CI and control participants were 23.3 ± 5.2 years and 22.7 ± 4.2 years, respectively. The mean stimulus and response AC/A ratio for CI pre therapy was 2.2 ± 0.72 and 6.3 ± 2.0 PD/D that changed to 4.2 ± 0.9 and 8.28 ± 3.31 PD/D respectively post vision therapy and these changes were statistically significant (paired t-test; p < 0.001). The mean stimulus and response AC/A ratio for controls was 3.1 ± 0.81 and 8.95 ± 2.5 PD/D respectively. Conclusions Stimulus and response AC/A ratio increased following VT, accompanied by clinically significant changes in vergence and accommodation parameters in subjects with convergence insufficiency. This represents the plasticity of the AC/A crosslink ratios that could be achieved with vision therapy in CI.

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