Status of Accommodation and Convergence in Dyslexia Individuals with and Without Refractive Errors

Abstract

Aim: To delineate the state of convergence and accommodation in individuals with dyslexia with and without refractive errors.

Study Design: Observational Study

Duration and Settings of the Study: Mayo Hospital Lahore from March 2024 to November 2024.

Methods: The study received approval from the Ethical Review Board. Individuals with dyslexia were recruited between March and November 2024 using a purposive (non‑probability) sampling technique. A total of 30 participants were included, comprising 15 individuals with refractive error and 15 without refractive error. Exclusion criteria included current use of medications affecting vision, inability to complete the examination after three attempts, and ocular disorders unrelated to dyslexia. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Near point of convergence was measured using an RAF ruler, and accommodative lag/lead was assessed through dynamic retinoscopy. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 27.0 using the Mann–Whitney U test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: The study included 30 individuals with dyslexia, with a mean age of 15.77 + 4.52 years with 19 (63.3%) males. Refractive error was not reported for half of the sample; among those with available data (n=15), 11 (73.3%) had hyperopia. Mann–Whitney U analyses showed that participants with refractive errors exhibited significantly greater accommodative lag (Mean Rank = 17.17, U = 28.00, p = .005) and a more distant near point of convergence (Mean Rank = 21.90, U = 16.50, p < .001) compared with those without refractive errors.

Conclusion: Refractive errors may contribute to binocular vision difficulties in individuals with dyslexia, particularly affecting near‑focus and convergence.