A Study of Patients with Spasm of the Near Reflex

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine changes in the degree of pseudomyopia and convergence in patients with spasm of the near reflex. METHODS: In 5 patients with spasm of the near reflex, we checked following UCVA/BCVA, the degree of pseudomyopia revealed through manifest and cycloplegic refraction tests, pupil size, limitation of EOM, the amount of convergence defined by the alternate prism cover test, and slit lamp and funduscopic exams. RESULTS: Of the 5 patients with spasm of near reflex, 3 had accommodative spasm alone and 2 had accommodative spasm, convergence spasm and miosis. The patients' degrees of pseudomyopia and convergence were -8.0D and 14PD on the average. which disappeared after an average of 10.8 months but recurred in 1 of the 3 patients with accommodative spasm. As for spasm of the near reflex, 1 patient showed improvement in convergence but worsening pseudomyopia during the follow-up period, and another patient showed recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The most common clinical feature of spasm of the near reflex is accommodative spasm. Patients with accommodative spasm alone showed better prognosis among all patients with spasm of the near reflex in terms of recurrence and the disease course.