Ophthalmology >>>> Accommodation spasm (false myopia)

Accommodation spasm (false myopia).

Accommodation is a feature of the muscle of the eye lens (ciliary muscle), which, as necessary, changes the curvature of the lens (alternating contractions and relaxation) in order to more accurately focus images located at different distances from the eyes. The closer to the eyes the object in question, the more convex the lens, which means that the muscle is more contracted. The farther from the eyes the object is, the flatter the lens, and the muscle is relaxed.

Long-term work with objects that are close to the eyes (reading small print, working with small details) leads to a situation when a spasm develops in the muscle that regulates the accommodation of the eye (accommodation spasm - synonyms: accommodation paralysis, false myopia), which forces a person the objects in question should be brought closer to an even closer distance to the eyes, which causes rapid eye fatigue, headaches, nervous tension and irritation. At the same time, distance vision deteriorates as a result of the inability to relax the ciliary muscle. Forced independent overcoming of the accommodation spasm does not give the desired results, and the consequences lead to the fact that the working visual zone shifts steadily close to the eyes and steadily leads to myopia.

In addition to excessive visual stress, the cause of accommodation spasm can be:

too bright or, on the contrary, poor lighting;
neuroses;
vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis;
eye injury or contusion, concussion;
increased intraocular pressure;
age-related changes in the state of the ciliary muscle and the physical characteristics of the lens itself;
accommodation paralysis can cause some toxins of microorganisms (botulinum toxin, diphtheria toxin);
the spasm of accommodation can be caused by taking certain drugs containing belladonna extract (atropine).

Accommodation spasm – treatment.

Treatment of accommodation spasm is always complex. In addition to drug therapy, including eye drops that cause relaxation of the ciliary muscle (irifrin and the like), eye exercises are performed with the participation of special equipment. The prognosis for the treatment of accommodation spasm depends on the age and physiological characteristics of the ciliary muscle and the lens, the duration of the spasm phenomenon. Prevention of accommodation spasm is aimed at constant training of the ciliary muscle (alternating relaxation and contraction), for which they periodically distract from close work and look at objects located in the distance.