Many children
are diagnosed and treated for ADHD and parents always wonder if perhaps eye and
vision problems may in part contribute to or be responsible or even associated
with ADHD. Researchers studied whether there was any association between
ADHD/ADD, uncorrected refractive-errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness
and astigmatism-and visual acuity. Their study and results were reported in the
journal of the American Association for
Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (AAPOS) They performed a case
matched controlled study that included children with a confirmed diagnosis of
ADD/ADHD and a control group of age matched
control children and then examined both groups including uncorrected visual
acuity for distance and near, cycloplegic refraction-an eye test to measure
uncorrected refractive error with eye drops, ocular motility or eye movement
patterns, and binocular function. Their results showed that ADD/ADHD
children had similar visual acuity at distance and near and refractive errors
as normal subjects. Eye movement and the ability to use both eyes together as
well as focusing ability were also found to be similar in both groups and thus
might not contribute to ADD/ADHD.
If you or someone you know has ADHD and is
concerned about any effects of vision problems, refractive errors or decreased
visual acuity please visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Google+
or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.
D'Ambrosio
Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout greater Boston, central and western
Massachusetts with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster,
Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main
Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts
01440.
