A benign syndrome of transient loss of accommodation in young patients

Abstract

Objective: To describe a benign condition of transient, isolated accommodation paralysis in young patients as a specific entity.

Design: Case series of children and young adults with transient loss of accommodation who were referred to the neuro-ophthalmology clinic at the Meir Medical Center from 1997 to 2006. Five young patients who complained of an inability to read had full neuro-ophthalmological examinations. Those who were found to have isolated accommodation paralysis without any other related ocular or systemic findings were prescribed reading glasses and followed up.

Results: All 5 patients had isolated loss of accommodation. No one had other ocular, neurological, or systemic abnormalities that could be associated with accommodation paralysis; they all did well with near correction. Accommodation returned to normal within 3 to 14 months in all 5 patients.

Conclusion: An isolated transient loss of accommodation unrelated to any other ocular or systemic manifestations may occur in children and young adults and may be considered a specific idiopathic entity.