Pharmacological effects on accommodative adaptation

Gilmartin, B; Bullimore, MA; Rosenfield, M; Winn, B; Owens, H

Abstract

We review the research which has attempted to determine whether the characteristics of autonomic innervation of ciliary smooth muscle are relevant to the process of accommodative adaptation. The effect of various topical autonomic drugs on the three phases of adaptation were analyzed: pre-task tonic accommodation (open-loop); within-task accommodative response (closed-loop); and post-task regression of accommodation to pre-task tonic levels. Although it is clear that parasympathetic innervation predominates, there is evidence that some individuals utilize supplementary inhibitory sympathetic innervation. When sympathetic innervation is augmented by substantial levels of concurrent parasympathetic accommodative activity, it may serve to attenuate the magnitude and duration of post-task shifts in tonic accommodation. It is proposed that individuals with a deficit in sympathetic inhibition may therefore be predisposed to anomalies of accommodative adaptation. However, the mechanism by which the oculomotor system responds to such predisposition is at present obscure.

Citation

Gilmartin, B., Bullimore, M., Rosenfield, M., Winn, B., & Owens, H. (1992). Pharmacological effects on accommodative adaptation. Optometry and Vision Science, 69(4), 276-284

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 1, 1992
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 1992
• Journal: Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of
• Print ISSN: 1538-9235
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 276-284
• Keywords: accommodation, autonomic nervous system, sustained visual tasks, tonic accommodation, sympathetic nervous system
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1109868
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/optvissci/pages/default.aspx