Spasm of acommodation

[anonymous951]

I had 20/20 vision till I was 21.

After prolonged period of reading I had strong headaches and noticed that i couldn't noticed distant objects. My doctor prescribed me -0.5.

I was trying to use the glasses but they were making even stronger problems and pain especially when i tried to read with them.

I was complaining to several doctors but haven't received any answer for several years.

So I decided to wear glasses only when I have to.

Then the more serious problem began!!!

I got the job in the room without any windows and natural light and after 8 hours spent in reading and in front of computer for 1 year i started to feel strong pressure and pain in my eyes and noticed that  my vision got worse.

Doctor prescribed stronger glasses - 1 but for me it became nightmare. I was complaining because of strong pain in my eyes while wearing glasses and difficulties to watch near objects with them.

Then I went to binocular tests and they found that i have exophoria and prescribed me double stronger glasses -2 to make better cooperation of eyes. It became even worse after that and they sent me to the neurologist. Neurologist told me that he doesn't know how to help me.

In the end one professor found that I have very strong spasm of accommodation and that exophoria should be the consequence of it and prescribed atropine and contact lenses. I used atropine but i am very scared to use contact lenses cause I noticed that wearing of minus lenses endanger my vision. I read on internet that minus glasses make even stronger pressure on accommodation and that plus lenses should be used for relaxing accommodation muscles.

I would like to add that while I was wearing glasses i could have noticed all details in them even my pupil and lid movements if mirror effect happened. It was very hard to watch through them.

This problem is very embarrassing and makes a lot of troubles for me so I would be very grateful for any advise.

[anonymous951]

Thanks for interest in my problem.

I live in Serbia and its very strange that i have problems so long and nobody made cyclopegic refraction for 5 years despite my often complaining. I had an opporttunity to read on internet that students who have developed good vision and complain to problems after prolonged close work should have cyclopegic refrection cause it could be often the consequence of pseudomyopia. One doctor made it last year and found -1. It was before the other doctor found spasm of accommodation while I had diagnose of exophoria.

It is obvious that my eyes with minus glasses are not able to accommodate and that it causes severe pain and getting worse my vision. With strong minus i also noticed that picture becomes unnatural and that near objects looks smaller. Also pain is stronger when I watch near objects.

I would like to add that once i tried voltaren (diclofenac) eyedrops while I was wearing -0,75 and i felt just a little better till it stopped to act.

Thanks

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I'm sorry but you have not given me enough accurate information to help you.  Need to know exact manifest refraction and cycloplegic refraction.  I suspect your glasses had too much minus  power in them initially and latest glasses should have less minus.  So in effect you probably need to use the least amount of minus power possible - and I wouldn't be surprised if you actually needed a little plus power but I would have to know your cycloplegic refraction.  It sounds like neuro-ophthalmologist could be on the right track. They are generally pretty brainy guys.

MJK MD