The Australian Journal of Optometry

ABSTRACT A retrospective analysis of the records of 14 patients diagnosed as having inertia of accommodation has been completed. The patients were most likely to report blurred near vision, facility of accommodation problems, headaches and asthenopia. In addition to a sluggish accommodative system, the accommodative amplitudes were slightly less than expected for the patient's age, the near point of convergence slightly extended and the fusional vergences slightly reduced. With orthoptic training, the facility and amplitude of accommodation and the recovery finding for the near positive fusional vergence were found to have improved significantly. Most patients (90%) obtained some relief with treatment, and 30% achieved a total alleviation of the difficulties. The condition and current state of treatment of inertia of accommodation are briefly discussed.