Comparison of Stereopsis, Contrast Sensitivity and Near Points of Accommodation In Patients With Degree of Myopia

Background: Stereopsis is the ability to perceive depth in objects through binocular vision, where the brain interprets 2-dimensional retinal images as 3-dimensional shadows. It plays a crucial role in assessing and understanding the objects we see. Factors like sensory and motor fusion greatly influence the quality of stereoscopic vision. Myopia, a condition characterized by nearsightedness, can negatively impact stereopsis. Contrast sensitivity refers to the ability to discern sharp outlines and detect subtle differences in shading and patterns. It helps identify objects with unclear boundaries against their background.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare Stereopsis, Contrast Sensitivity, and Near Point of Accommodation among individuals with different grades of Myopia and Emmetropia.

Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Nandadeep Eye Hospital, Maharastra, involving staff and patients aged 15 to 30 years. Participants with strabismus, anisometropia, previous ocular surgery, ocular diseases, or systemic conditions were excluded. The assessments included objective and subjective refraction eye examinations, as well as measurements of stereopsis, contrast sensitivity, and near point of accommodation. Results: The results, based on 109 subjects, indicated no significant change in contrast sensitivity between emmetropes and myopes. However, there were significant differences in stereoacuity and NPA among different grades of myopes compared to emmetropes.

Conclusions: the study suggests that optometrists and eye healthcare professionals should assess stereopsis and near point of accommodation in severely myopic patients even after optical correction, and consider vision therapy if necessary, as it is an effective treatment for accommodative and binocular vision anomalies.