Convergence insufficiency in patients taking medicines.
The incidence of convergence insufficiency in patients taking medicines is compared with its incidence in patients taking no therapeutic drugs, in a sample of 648 taken from a normal optometric practice. It is found that the incidence was significantly higher in those patients on medicines considering the group as a whole. It is also found to be higher in older patients, and that most of the older patients were taking medicines whilst the younger patients were not. However, the increase in the incidence of convergence insufficiency in the older patients taking medicines was disproportionately high. It is concluded that age is not the only factor in the increased incidence, and that the taking of medicines as a possible indicator of poor general health, is also an important factor in the cause of convergence difficulties.
D000367:Age Factors; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013285:Strabismus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology