New England College of Optometry - Scope Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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THE SCOPE All Volume XVIH Number 5 AUGUST 1947 FEATURES Negative Accommodation ...,................ page 5 Wfiffimlz D. Correlzfe, O.D. MSO Commencement Exercises ........ page 5 AOA Golden jubilee ..........................i. page 6 Editorial Page ........... ......... p age 7 Eye-Drops .......................... ......... Lb nge 10 Optometric Pathology ........ ......... ja age 11

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eqalliae fqccammacf Much has been said and written concerning Negative Accommodation. Unfortunately the majority of statements brought to the writer's attention appear to be too didactic to be ac- cepted in full. It is claimed alternately that this function either does or does not exist. Some of our Optometric colleagues claim that their respective schools have taught that this function can not and does not exist. Further- more they are supported by many of our lead- ing authors in their texts concerning refraction. Again some practitioners will claim, on the basis of a few odd reactions noted in an oc- casional patient, that Negative Accommoda- tion is tzr 71111513 11 fznzclimz as Positive Accom- modation itself. These same men, however, who will argue either pro or con in this question, will readily admit the variability that exists in other functions of the body. They accept without question the fact that the func- tion of circulation may be carried on under moderately different degrees of pressure for different patients. We all know that a blood pressure, considered normal for one individual, may be considered high for another. Again, and more pertinent to our field, we occasionally find a patient, who can rfofznznzrily nzeznifert some degree of divergence for infinity. fThe writer recalls a fellow Optometric student with this ability. He was definitely not a strab case -his other binocular functions being well within the normal rangej. If these variations can and do exist in other functions, why then is it not logical to assume that they may, and at times do exist in the accommodative function of some individuals, giving rise to Negative Accommodation, or something that acts very much like it. Many of us in practice today have served as Optometrists with the armed forces, and 4' Reprinted from The Rhode Island Optometric journal' . 4' By Willifzflz D. Corrente, O.D. '41 M P1'0z'ia'e12ce. R. I. were at times called upon to refract with a cycloplegic, which in most cases followed the manifest refraction, and was used as an addi- tional check-test. In cases where the manifest and cycloplegic differed moderately, a post- cyclopegic refraction was made. It naturally was usual to find less minus under cyclopegia. There was, in most cases of myopia, a corres- ponding ifzrreare in uncorrected vision, due to the lowered degree of myopia found under the cyclopegic. Occasionally, however, the cyclo- plegia seemed to produce a reverse reaction and a marked defreme in uncorrected vision was noted in myopes. It seemed as if the homa- tropine had inhibited the patient's increased vision. One of the most marked cases of this type was recorded by the writer, and is pre- sented below with additional comments. Un- fortunately the equipment available for this refraction prevented a complete analysis, but the findings presented are accurate and have been verified by other examiners present at the time. When it was noted that the patient presented this unusual reaction, additional care was taken with the patient to ascertain his reactions-hence the comments following the various tests. PATIENT: Age 18, .....,...... highly intelligent and reli- able, former student at a northern college, never wore glasses, referred to Eye Clinic for blurred vision at times. Naked Virionz O. D. 2Of50-1 O. S. 20f5O-2 From the manner in which the patient called the letters, it was thought he was squinting - some letters seemed alternately clear and blurred, as in a hyperope, who is accornmo- dating. All testing done at 20 feet, with a May 1947 by permission. Page Three