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. 2020 Jul-Sep;13(3):185-190.
doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2020.01.003. Epub 2020 May 31.

Frequency of undetected binocular vision anomalies among ophthalmology trainees

Ayisha Atiya  1 , Jameel Rizwana Hussaindeen  2 , Supraja Kasturirangan  3 , Srikanth Ramasubramanian  3 , K Swathi  3 , Meenakshi Swaminathan  3
Affiliations

Frequency of undetected binocular vision anomalies among ophthalmology trainees

Ayisha Atiya et al. J Optom. 2020 Jul-Sep.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Purpose: The use of ophthalmic instruments requires increased effort on the accommodation and vergence system. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of binocular vision anomalies among ophthalmology trainees attending a surgical training program at a tertiary eye care center.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was carried out between April and November 2017 at a tertiary eye care center in South India. All the ophthalmology trainees inducted for the training programs at the institution underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic and binocular vision assessment. Subjects with previous diagnosis of binocular vision dysfunction and vision therapy were excluded.

Results: The mean (SD) age of the subjects was 29 (3) among which 48 were females. Out of the total 75 subjects, 66 had prior surgical experience [range: 1 to 17 years]. Thirty-eight subjects were asymptomatic and 37 were symptomatic. The most common asthenopic symptom was the presence of headache. Forty-one (55%) out of the 75 had a diagnosis of a non-strabismic binocular vision dysfunction. The range of phoria at distance was orthophoria to 14 Prism Diopter (PD) exophoria (mean +/- SD: -1 +/- 3), and at near 4PD esophoria to 25PD exophoria (mean +/- SD: -4 +/- 5). Based on standard diagnostic criteria, 15 subjects (20%) had convergence insufficiency, 14 (19%) had accommodative infacility, 9 (12%) had intermittent divergent squint (IDS), while 3 subjects (4%) had convergence excess.

Conclusions: This study shows the high frequency of binocular vision dysfunctions among ophthalmology trainees joining a tertiary eye care center.

Objetivo: El uso de instrumentos oftálmicos requiere un esfuerzo incrementado de los sistemas de acomodación y vergencia. El objetivo de este estudio fue comprender la prevalencia de anomalías de visión binocular entre los alumnos de oftalmología que asistían a un programa de formación quirúrgica en un centro terciario de cuidados oculares.

Métodos: Este estudio de cohorte prospectivo fue realizado entre abril y noviembre de 2017 en un centro terciario de cuidados oculares en el sur de India. Todos los estudiantes de oftalmología inscritos en los programas de formación en el centro fueron sometidos a un amplio examen oftálmico y binocular. Se excluyó a los sujetos con diagnóstico previo de disfunción de visión binocular y terapia ocular.

Resultados: La edad media (DE) de los sujetos fue de 29 años (3), de los cuales 48 eran mujeres. Del total de 75 sujetos, 66 tenían experiencia quirúrgica previa [rango: de 1 a 17 años]. Treinta y ocho sujetos eran asintomáticos y 37 sintomáticos. El síntoma de astenopía más común fue la presencia de cefalea. Cuarenta y uno (55%) de los 75 sujetos fueron diagnosticados de disfunción visual binocular no estrábica. El rango de foria de lejos fue de ortoforia a 14 dioptrías prismáticas (DP) a exoforia (media +/− DE: −1 +/− 3) y, de cerca, de esoforia a 4DP a esoforia a 25DP (media +/− DE: −4 +/− 5). Basándonos en criterios diagnósticos estándar, 15 sujetos (20%) tenían insuficiencia de convergencia, 14 (19%) falta de facilidad acomodativa, 9 (12%) tenían estrabismo divergente intermitente (EDI), y 3 sujetos (4%) tenían exceso de convergencia.

Conclusiones: Este estudio muestra la alta frecuencia de disfunciones de visión binocular entre los estudiantes de oftalmología que acudieron a un centro terciario de cuidados oculares.

Keywords: Anomalías de visión binocular no estrábica; Convergence insufficiency; Exoforia; Exophoria; Insuficiencia de convergencia; Non-strabismic binocular vision anomalies; Oftalmología; Ophthalmology.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of symptoms among subjects with normal binocular vision (BV) and Non-Strabismic binocular vision anomalies (NSBVA).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Presenting visual complaints of the subjects.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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