Dynamic Retinoscopy

Dynamic retinoscopy is a technique for measuring accommodation. For the test, the child is presented a distance fixation target, quickly followed by a near fixation target, while the retinoscopic reflex is observed. In a child with normal accommodation, the reflex will be neutralized at near focus. A poor accommodative response indicates a possible need for bifocal or reading glasses. Hypoaccommodation occurs much more frequently in children with Down syndrome or cerebral palsy than in the general pediatric population.

Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.