Divergence excess: characteristics and results of treatment with orthoptics

This paper retrospectively examines the results of the treatment of 18 subjects (11 males, seven females) with divergence excess, using orthoptics. The mean age of the subjects was 15.8 years, which was significantly younger than the population from which this group was referred. Diplopia (89%) and asthenopia (56%) were the most frequently reported symptoms. Seventy-two per cent of the subjects had intermittent deviations of the eyes. Over the mean necessary course of treatment of 5.2 weeks, the distance angle of deviation (slightly) and the positive vergences at distance and near were found to have changed significantly. The near angle of deviation, the negative vergences, the near point of convergence, the amplitude of accommodation, and the threshold of stereopsis were found to have remained stable over the treatment period. Further results of the study are presented and the implications of these results with regard to the treatment of divergence excess are briefly discussed.