Accommodative spasm

[Billyv]

Hi there Apparently i have this. It all started when i couldn't see my boys out in the surf and driving got harder. I went to the optician and they said my eyes were fine. So i left it a bit until it got worse. went back and they couldn't understand what i was going on about but gave me the lowest glasses for driving to get rid of me i think which was ok (for a while then went bad again)  but never 100% so left it for a while again and went back  They said specialist so off i go to find nothing wrong with my eyes again but suggested  to dilate my eyes for 3-4 days or go up a lens. So went up a lens as it was a pain to be out of action for 3-4 days having a young family in all. So couldn't wait for the glasses to find when i put them on it was great and so clear to get in the car and drive it all went blurry again and i couldn't understand it all. So waited for a while to see if i needed to adjust to them but no it only got worse. Finally went back to the doctor and she said lets try an opthamologist so i did as by know it was bad not even being able to open my eyes and not being able to drive anywhere. Opthamologist said straight away it was accommodation spasm and said the glasses i had been given were making it worse get rid of them and wanted me to have Artophine drops in every night for the next 4 weeks. Well i really can't see anything at all now and have done the 4 weeks and have come off them for two weeks to no change (bugger) as i was looking forward to getting my life back. So have been told we need to do it again for 5 weeks.. God help me i am going nuts. and this time a week into it my eyes are worse than last time.I can't even go for a walk as i have i am  shutting my eyes more often than opening them. What is Happening  to me?? and will this ever go away. I am house bound and have been told to use reading glasses for reading from the warehouse to get by. Even that is bad. Know i am beginning to wonder if i am going down the correct road with this. all your help would be appreciated as i have hit rock bottom today and need answers. Please help me. Billy V ps sorry if the spelling is not correct seeing is a problem.  


This discussion is related to Accommodative spasm.

[JohnHaganMD]

Most of the information in the above paragraph is incorrect and anyone with accommodative spasm that wants to learn more should read section at emedicine, use the search feature to read some of the other conversations or at least read Wikipedia.com section

JCH MD

[Maria111110]

In January 2013, I got very strong case of accommodative spasm. I was freaking out. I have never experienced that before, and I thought I was losing my vision. I saw a couple of doctors who couldn't tell what was wrong with me. I was so scared, and my accommodative spasm was getting worse and worse. I lost my appetite, my quality of life dramatically decreased, and I could hardly even walk. I decided to call my opthamologist in Russia as I had recently moved to the U.S. Based on my symptoms, she quickly concluded and told me that I have an accommodative spasm. She said that stress from transitioning to a different country could have caused it. She also said that I should calm down, sleep in, and it will go away eventually. Accommodative spasm is very common condition in Russia. They treat it with drops called Neosynephrine 2.5%.
But my anxiety was so bad that I couldn't stop the nervousness. After 4 month of my suffering, I decided to see a psychologist who prescribed me clonazepam (anxiety medication). Literally in few days my accommodative spasm started to go away, and I was able to come back to my normal activities. I would recommend not taking this medication for a long time even if they tell you so. One month is enough! I also recommend to see a neuro-opthalmologist. This is a doctor that treats accommodative spasm. Another thing that helped me was a new eyeglasses. A few month later, I was able to go to Russia and visit my doctor who adjusted my glasses prescription for a stronger one. Basically, you can only correct accommodative spasm with stronger eyeglasses especially for reading and wait. It will go away eventually. It can take from 2 days to 2 years.
Please feel free to contact me.

[Billyv]

Thanks for your reply now they are saying i have spasm of the eye lids and that is why i can't keep them open and it is getting worse is there answer to this problem. I'm really at a loose end with it all.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

It is impossible for me to make a suggestion.  This seems very unusual.  Get a second opinion.  Atropine can last from 10 to 12 days.  They can use a drops which much more short acting.

Dr. O.