[Prismatic treatment for heterophoric decompensation after onset of presbyopia]

This study presents the results of the prescription of small prisms in horizontally (N = 11) and vertically (N = 5) heterophoric patients after the onset of presbyopia. There was a high incidence of diplopia (69%) at an age where fusionnal adaptation capacities are limited. Prismatic treatment released the diplopia and asthenopic complaints in 100% of the cases. The prisms were easily included in prescriptions for progressive lenses in half of the cases. Their strength was eventually decreased in 12.5% of the cases, and they were totally eliminated in 12.5%. The prescription had to be increased in only one case. The mean follow-up was 2.8 years (with a range from 1 to 7.5 years).