Adaptive changes with prolonged effect of comitant and incomitant vergence disparities

When comitant and incomitant vergence disparities are induced for prolonged periods of time, the adaptive state becomes more stable. When the change is complete, the adaptive ability of the oculomotor system to a further disparity should be the same as that before any induced effect. Comitant change was investigated in five subjects who wore a 2 delta base-up Fresnel prism for prolonged periods of time (1 to 3 days). Adaptation was periodically monitored with a further 2 delta base-up prism. In three subjects the rate of adaptation to the additional prism approached that which occurred before the experiment. In two subjects, both of whom suffered asthenopic symptoms with the initial disparity, adaptation to the additional prism remained slow and incomplete. Incomitant change was investigated in two subjects who wore a -3.00 contact lens-spectacle lens (CL-SL) system for 2 to 3 days. Adaptation was monitored with a further -1.50 CL-SL system at the start and the end of the prolonged wear. Both these subjects had a much faster rate of adaptation at the end of the prolonged period than they had at the beginning.