Accommodation exercises specifically target the lens‑focusing mechanism to improve the ability to adjust between near and distance. They are mainly used in younger patients where the focusing system is still flexible.
Techniques
Common methods include “near-far” focus changes, using accommodative flipper lenses, or practising with targets that move gradually closer and further away. Exercises are structured to challenge but not overwhelm the focusing system.
- Sessions are typically short and performed several times per week
- Supervision ensures correct working distance and technique
- Useful for accommodative insufficiency, infacility, or some post‑trauma issues
- Not effective for presbyopia, where the lens itself has lost flexibility
Clinical Considerations
Accommodation exercises are prescribed after careful assessment and are often combined with convergence training or optical correction. They should be reviewed periodically to judge benefit.
- Overuse can cause temporary blur or headaches; rest periods are built in
- Parents may need guidance to support children completing exercises at home
- Exercises are adapted or stopped once goals are met
- Underlying systemic or neurological causes of focusing problems must be addressed
