Correlation Between ADHD And Accommodative Insufficiency.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently one of the most commonly diagnosed neurobehavioral conditions affecting children. First line treatment for this condition is oral medication, including methylphenidate, amphetamines, atomoxetine, guanfacine, and antidepressants. Many of these medications list “blurry vision” or “headaches” as a side effect. Some ocular abnormalities in children being medically treated for ADHD have been noted in the literature, including convergence insufficiency and accommodative dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a correlation between the use of medication for the treatment of ADHD and the
incidences of accommodative insufficiency in children.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of children diagnosed with accommodative
insufficiency was performed using records of patients seen at the University Eye
Center at the Michigan College of Optometry. Inclusion criteria included all
children from 7 to 18 years old within the past 5 years with the diagnosis of
accommodative paresis or accommodative spasm. These records were then
searched for any previous diagnosis of ADD or ADHD and any medications being
used to treat the condition. Once the data was compiled, SPSS analysis was
performed to determine if there are any statistically significant links between the
variables.
Results: The charts of 161 children diagnosed with accommodative disorders were reviewed. Of these 161 patients, 30 had a previous diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. SPSS analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in terms of amplitude of accommodation or difference between actual and expected amplitudes of ccommodation between children with ADD or ADHD and children without attention deficits.
Conclusions: In total, 18.6% of the children in this study had ADD or ADHD. The
results of this study indicate that children using ADD or ADHD medication do not
have lower amplitudes of accommodation than children not on ADD/ADHD
medication.