Your new experience awaits. Try the new design now and help us make it even better

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurosci., 26 January 2026

Sec. Visual Neuroscience

Volume 20 - 2026 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2026.1742375

This article is part of the Research TopicNeural Mechanisms and Clinical Advances in Binocular VisionView all 5 articles

Normative data for accommodative facility and vergence facility in a sample of African school children aged 8–17 years

Charles Darko-Takyi
Charles Darko-Takyi1*Ebenezer ManuEbenezer Manu2Victoria YirrahVictoria Yirrah3Sandra OwusuSandra Owusu1Kumi Owusu BoakyeKumi Owusu Boakye4Carl Halladay AbrahamCarl Halladay Abraham1Kwame Okyere OseiKwame Okyere Osei5
  • 1Department of Ophthalmic Science, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
  • 2Department of Eye, Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Sunyani-Fiapre, Ghana
  • 3Department of Optometry, Malaika Medical Center, Tarkwa, Ghana
  • 4Department of Eye, Iran Clinic, Accra, Ghana
  • 5Department of Clinical Optometry, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

Background/objectives: The existing literature on normative data for accommodative facility (AF) in African populations is limited to high school students. There is no normative data for vergence facility (VF) in African children, so there are no benchmarks for comparison in case analysis, diagnosis, and management. The study aimed to establish normative data for AF in children aged 8–12 years. Additionally, the study sought to determine normative data for VF in children aged 8–17 years in the Cape Coast metropolis, Ghana.

Methods: Normal children (510) were recruited through a comprehensive oculo-visual examination of 2,300 basic school-going children, aged 8–17 years. AF was measured with a ± 2D flipper lens for 1 min. VF was measured with a 3-base-in/12 base-out flipper prism for 1 min. Normative data were derived using the median with interquartile ranges (IQR) and considering the spread of data within the minimum and maximum ranges.

Results: A median value of 13 cpm with IQR of 4 cpm was determined for monocular accommodative facility (MAF). The normative central tendency for MAF for school children 8–17 years ranges from 9 to 17 cpm; data were widely spread, with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 cpm. A median value of 13 cpm with IQR of 3 cpm was determined for the binocular accommodative facility (BAF). The normative central tendency for BAF for school children aged 8–17 years ranged from 9 to 14 cpm; data were widely spread, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 20 cpm. A median value of 14 cpm with IQR of 4 cpm was determined for VF. The normative central tendency for VF for school children 8–17 years ranged from 10 to 18 cpm; data were widely spread, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 21 cpm.

Conclusion: The normative data apply only to similarly aged Ghanaian children and serve as standards for comparison to clinical data for MAF, BAF, and VF during case analysis.

1 Introduction

Accommodative facility (AF) assesses the dynamics of accommodative responses (von Noorden and Campos, 2002; Liu et al., 1979), examines the speed of changes in accommodation (Bertil et al., 2001), and reflects the interaction between accommodation and vergence (Siderov and Johnston, 1990). Vergence facility (VF) testing evaluates the ability of the fusional vergence system to respond quickly and accurately to changing vergence demands over time (Gall et al., 1998). The flexibility of accommodation and vergence—encompassing accommodative and vergence dynamics—is essential for shifting focus from near to distant targets and vice versa during daily activities. Difficulties with these functions place greater strain on the visual system, leading to binocular vision disorders and symptoms such as visual discomfort and asthenopia (Cooper et al., 2011). With heightened academic demands among school children, the stress on the accommodative and vergence systems would rise (Elsiddig A. and Alrasheed H., 2017). Consequently, the occurrences of accommodative and vergence infacilities are likely to rise in the population. Analyzing AF and VF results and comparing them to population-specific normative data is crucial in modern optometric practice.

Interracial, ethnic, and age differences in normative data for binocular vision parameters have been reported (Hussaindeen et al., 2017; Chen and Abidin, 2002; Hussaindeen et al., 2015; Majumber, 2015). These differences are evident in studies on AF among school children (Scheiman et al., 1988; Chen and Abidin, 2002; Gierow et al., 2014), teenagers (Wajuihian, 2019; Darko-Takyi et al., 2022), university students (Chikuse et al., 2022), and young adults (Alrasheed et al., 2024). The difference is again evident in studies on VF among school children (Chen and Abidin, 2002; Gierow et al., 2014) and young adults (Gall et al., 1998; Momeni-Moghaddam et al., 2014). Among children, the reference values for monocular accommodative facility (MAF) and binocular accommodative facility (BAF) range from 5 to 26 cpm and 2 to 26 cpm, respectively (Scheiman et al., 1988; Gierow et al., 2014; Chen and Abidin, 2002). Among teenagers, the reference values for MAF and BAF range from 6 to 13 cpm and 5 to 12 cpm, respectively (Wajuihian, 2019; Darko-Takyi et al., 2022). In adults, the reference values for MAF and BAF range from 5 to 10 cpm and 4 to 12 cpm, respectively (Alrasheed et al., 2024; Chikuse et al., 2022). The reference values for VF for children range from 5 to 26 cpm (Chen and Abidin, 2002; Gierow et al., 2014; Gall et al., 1998). Among adults, the reference values for VF range from 10 to 19 cpm (Chen and Abidin, 2002; Gall et al., 1998; Momeni-Moghaddam et al., 2014). Variations in these results are attributed to the ocular anatomical differences among populations (Wang et al., 2012; Blake et al., 2003), which influence refractive (Kleinstein et al., 2003; Dadeya et al., 2001) and accommodative states (Jimenez et al., 2004; Chen and Abidin, 2002). The standards reported, besides being population-specific, are also limited by the discrepancies in the techniques, targets, and measurement protocols used for testing AF and VF across populations.

Optometrists in Africa mostly rely on the standards established for American populations (Scheiman and Wick, 2014) when interpreting and analyzing AF and VF results, as well as monitoring treatment. This is due to the lack of available age-appropriate, population-specific normative data for these measures. Such practice can cause inaccuracies in diagnosing and managing non-strabismic binocular vision anomalies among African populations. Acquiring age-specific normative data for AF and VF tailored to the African population is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management of these conditions (Hussaindeen et al., 2017; Hussaindeen et al., 2015; Chen and Abidin, 2002; Majumber, 2015). In Africa, Wajuihian (2019) and Darko-Takyi et al. (2022) reported normative data for AF among teenagers, whereas Chikuse et al. (2022) provided data for university students. The AF data from these studies differ from those of younger African children, as Hussaindeen et al. (2017) found a significant increase in mean values between younger children and teenagers in India. Additionally, Scheiman et al. (1988) observed lower mean AF measures in school children compared to adults. Moreover, there is no reported normative data on VF for any African population. This study aims to establish normative data for AF in children aged 8–12 years in Ghana and for VF among children aged 8–17 years in Ghana.

2 Materials and methods

2.1 Ethical considerations

This study conformed to the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki). The study was ethically approved by the University of Cape Coast Institutional Review Board (Ref: UCCIRB/CHAS/2019/173). The Cape Coast Metro Education Directorate, Ghana, and the head teachers of the sampled schools granted permission. Parents and guardians gave written informed consent, and school children gave their assent to participate in the study.

2.2 Study design and sampling

A cross-sectional study using a multistage sampling technique was conducted among primary school children in the Cape Coast metropolis, Ghana. The minimum sample size was calculated using the formula for normative data [(Z1-a/2)2SD2]/d2. Z1-a/2 represents the standard normal variate at a 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05), which is 1.96. SD refers to the standard deviation of normative quantitative variables, with 2.50 cpm for accommodative facility and 3 cpm for vergence facility. “d” is taken as 0.5 cpm, representing the allowable error or precision in estimating the normative data for accommodative and vergence facilities. Considering a design effect of three and accounting for a 10% attrition rate, the minimum sample sizes calculated for the normative study of AF and VF were 317 and 456, respectively.

The schools in the Cape Coast metropolis were clustered into six according to their location. Simple random sampling was employed to select two schools from each of the six clusters. At each of the 12 selected schools, a minimum of 45 normal participants were randomly selected.

2.3 Data collection procedure

2.3.1 Questionnaire administration

The revised Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) questionnaire (Borsting et al., 2003) (a valid and reliable 15-symptom tool to distinguish between patients with normal binocular vision and those with convergence insufficiency or other binocular vision issues) was administered to eliminate participants with symptoms of non-strabismic binocular vision anomaly, as studies indicate symptoms significantly overlap (Davis et al., 2016; Marran et al., 2006). Each question was read verbatim, and subjects were asked to rate the frequency of their symptoms on a scale of 0–4 (0 indicates never; 1, infrequently; 2, sometimes; 3, fairly often; and 4, all of the time).

2.3.2 Oculo-visual screening phase

The Bailey Lovie LogMAR chart and N-notation charts were used to assess distance and near visual acuity, respectively. Stereoacuity and suppression were evaluated with the TNO stereoscopic chart. Unilateral cover testing with prism bar neutralization was performed using an occluder and prism bar. External and internal ocular examinations were conducted with a handheld slit lamp and a direct Keeler ophthalmoscope, respectively. Non-cycloplegic objective refraction was performed using the streak retinoscope; subjective refraction (using the forging technique) was carried out with the trial lens set.

2.3.3 Exclusion criteria

Participants with a CISS score greater than 16 (Rouse et al., 2009), best corrected visual acuity in one or both eyes worse than 0.0 LogMar at distance or at near, stereoacuity greater than 60 s of arc, ocular suppression, constant or intermittent strabismus, nystagmus, and ocular disease were excluded from the study.

2.3.4 Accommodative facility testing

AF was assessed using ±2 D flipper lenses while focusing at near (40 cm) on N6 black reading letters on a white background. The child first focused the target through the +2D side of the flipper and reported that the letters became clearer. The examiner quickly flipped to the -2D side as the child continued to focus, and the child reported that it became clear again. The test lasted 60 s; a cycle was defined as the ability to clear both the plus and minus sides of the ±2D flipper lenses. The number of cycles within 1 min of testing was recorded as cycles per minute (cpm). The test was performed monocularly (right and left eyes) and binocularly, with results recorded accordingly. The order of testing was randomized for the right eye, left eye, and both eyes. The participants were made to rest for one minute between each test for consistency in data collection, as there is no specified official break time in standard clinical practice. Before testing for AF, the children were asked to read the N6 letters as confirmation of reading fluency. The choice of N6 optotypes for all participants was to ensure that the same stimulus was used for all participants during testing to avoid a systematic error or bias.

2.3.5 Vergence facility testing

VF was measured for 1 min using the 3BI/12BO flipper prism, focusing at 40 cm on black N6 letters on a white background. The 3 base-in/12 base-out flipper prism was alternately flipped in front of both eyes, and the child reported seeing a single target when it appeared as one. The base-in prism was introduced first, followed by the base-out prism. If the 12-base-out prism was introduced first, the induced vergence adaptations from the convergence responses could temporarily bias subsequent base-in measurements (Sassonov et al., 2010). One cycle was defined as the ability to see the target as single through the 3 base-in and 12 base-out prisms alternately for both eyes. The number of cpm was recorded.

2.4 Data analysis

Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. Boxplots and quantile-quantile plots were used to identify outliers; all outliers were replaced with the median. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to test for normality. Descriptive analysis was done using the medians, interquartile ranges (IQR), and percentiles; the means with standard deviation and their 95% confidence intervals were also presented. A Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine the differences in AF and VF among gender and age categories. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine differences in AF between the right and left eyes. A Spearman rho correlation was used to determine the association between age, and AF and VF. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was defined as statistically significant. A clinically significant difference was defined as a median difference within the IQR (within the central tendency); this difference cannot push the data outside the range of minimum and maximum to cause potential asthenopia.

3 Results

The number of participants enrolled in the study were 2,300 of which 1,624 (70.60%) were excluded [symptomatic (906), best corrected visual acuity worse than 0.0 logMAR at distance and at near (299), ocular diseases (161), strabismus (147), stereoacuity less than 60 arcsec (63), suppression (37), and nystagmus (14)] and 166 (7.2%) were dropped out (non-complaince with AF and VF test instructions). The sample excluded were referred to the University of Cape Coast Eye Clinic for treatment. The final normal sample was 510, of which 263 (51.57%) were males, and 247 (48.43%) were females. The final sample age (ranged: 8–17 years; mean: 12.37 ± 2.18 years) was not normally distributed (p = 0.0001). The quantifiable screening parameters for the normal sample (510) are stereoacuity (mean ±1SD = 57.26 ± 9.31 and median = 60.00 IQR 0), distance visual acuity (mean ±1SD = −0.02 ± 0.078; median = −0.100 IQR 0.1), and CISS score (mean ±1SD = 8.45 ± 4.640; median = 9 IQR 7).

AF and VF measures for the normal participants were not normally distributed (Tables 1, 2). The normative data thus presented (Table 1; Figure 1) describes not just the means, standard deviation, and 95% confidence intervals, but also the median, interquartile ranges, and percentiles. There was a significant difference in MAF between right (mean rank: 186.88) and left (mean rank: 208.57) eyes (Z = 3.085, p = 0.002), thus, both measures were presented (Tables 1, 2).

Table 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1. Description of normative data for accommodative facility and vergence facility for school children in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Table 2
www.frontiersin.org

Table 2. Distribution of parameters of accommodative facility and vergence facility among gender and age category for school children in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Figure 1
Four box plots labeled A, B, C, and D, representing total accommodative and vergence facilities. A shows the right eye with values from 5 to 20; B shows the left eye with values from 6 to 20; C shows both eyes with values from 6 to 20; D shows vergence for both eyes with values from 5 to 25. Each plot displays a blue box indicating the interquartile range and whiskers for the minimum and maximum values.

Figure 1. Boxplot indicating range of normative data for accommodative and vergence facilities for a sample of school children in Cape Coast, Ghana. (A) Median (interquartile range) for monocular accommodative facility (right eye) is 13 (5) cpm, the spread of normative range with minimum and maximum normative data point of 4–20 cpm. (B) Median (interquartile range) for monocular accommodative facility (left eye) is 13 (4) cpm, with a wide spread normative range, minimum and maximum data points of 4–20 cpm. (C) Median (interquartile range) for binocular accommodative facility is 13 (3) cpm, with wide spread normative range, minimum and maximum data point of 5–20 cpm. (D) Median (interquartile range) for vergence facility is 14 (4) cpm, with widespread normative range, minimum and maximum data points of 6–21 cpm.

Mean ranks for males were significantly greater than for females (Table 3) for MAF and VF. The observed median differences of 1 cpm or less, however, for MAF and VF are not clinically meaningful. The mean ranks of the younger children (8–12 years) were greater than those for the teenage children (13–17 years) for the AF and VF (Table 3). This difference was, however, statistically significant for VF only (Table 3). The median difference in VF of 1 cpm between young children and teenagers was not clinically meaningful (Table 2).

Table 3
www.frontiersin.org

Table 3. Comparison of accommodative and vergence facility among gender and age categories for school children in Cape Coast, Ghana, in Mann–Whitney U test.

There was a very weakly significant negative correlation between age and VF (Figure 2). There was no significant correlation between age and MAF for the right eye (rs = −0.078, p = 0.077), left eye (rs = −0.076, p = 0.086), and binocular accommodative facility (BAF) (rs = −0.04, p = 0.369). There were moderately significant positive correlations between VF and MAF [right eye (rs = 0.631, p = 0.0001), left eye (rs = 0.633, p = 0.0001)] and BAF (rs = 0.580, p = 0.0001).

Figure 2
Scatter plot showing the relationship between age and total vergence facility for a minute. Age ranges from eight to eighteen years on the vertical axis. Total vergence facility ranges from zero to twenty-five on the horizontal axis. Data points are scattered throughout, with a downward trend indicated by a fitted line.

Figure 2. Scatterplot indicating a significantly weak negative Spearman rho correlation between age in years and vergence facility in cycles per minute (cpm) for a sample of school children in Cape Coast, Ghana. The correlation coefficient, rs = −0.179, and the p < 0.0001.

4 Discussion

4.1 Intepretation of normative data

As the data were not normally distributed, the main reference descriptive guidelines for interpretation are the median with the interquartile ranges, and the spread of the data considering the minimum and maximum values. The mean data with standard deviations, however, can also guide practitioners. Considering the median with interquartile range (Table 1) and the mean with standard deviation (Table 1), the range of standards for MAF among school children in Cape Coast, Ghana, is 9 to 17 cpm. The median with interquartile range for the BAF (Table 1), along with its mean and standard deviation (Table 1), indicates that the standards for BAF in the population range from 9 to 14 cpm. The median with interquartile range (Table 1) and the mean with standard deviation (Table 1) indicate that the standards for VF among Cape Coast school children range from 10 to 18 cpm. These ranges described above represent the central tendencies for the normative data. Considering the widely spread nature of the normative data points (minimum and maximum values), the data should be interpreted as normal, with emphasis on the absence of binocular vision-related symptoms. The range of standards for BAF was lower than MAF; also, the range of standards for VF was greater than that for the accommodative facility. In comparing the standard data (Table 1) with patients’ clinical data for Ghanaian children 8–17 years old, any measure lower than this range can be interpreted as low, and that above this range may be interpreted as exaggerated. Even though the study found statistically significant median differences between the standards for males and females, the observed median differences of 1 cpm for MAF and BAF are not clinically meaningful, as the values fall within their interquartile ranges. Also, the observed differences in VF between young children and teenage children are not clinically meaningful. The normative data described (Table 1) applies to both genders and ages (8–17 years), as any observed differences are not clinically meaningful. During clinical case analysis for Ghanaian children within the age of 8–17 years, practitioners should compare patients’ data to the standards described (Table 1) for the population, instead of the gender based standards (Table 2). The normative data for the VF determined (Table 1) is novel for an African population. The normative data derived for AF for Ghanaian children below the age of 12 years are novel, as a previous study by Darko-Takyi et al. (2022) included older-aged children up to 17 years old.

4.2 Comparing accommodative facility and vergence facility normative data with the literature

Tables 4, 5 compare the results of the present study to standards in other populations. The MAF result was comparable to Burge (1979), regardless of differences in population, sample size, and age ranges (Table 4). The AF results in the present study are higher compared to those among teenage children in the Central region of Ghana (Darko-Takyi et al., 2022) and in South Africa (Wajuihian, 2019), but lower compared to those in India (Hussaindeen et al., 2017). For children below the age of 12 years (Table 4), the range of AF standards in the present study is comparable to that among Indians (Hussaindeen et al., 2017), higher compared to that in Spanish children (Jimenez et al., 2004), standards by Scheiman and Wick (2014) and Swedish children (Gierow et al., 2014), and lower compared to standards in Malaysian children (Chen and Abidin, 2002).

Table 4
www.frontiersin.org

Table 4. Comparing normative data for accommodative facility for school children in Cape Coast, Ghana, with standards in other populations.

Table 5
www.frontiersin.org

Table 5. Comparing normative data for vergence facility for school children in Cape Coast, Ghana, with standards in other populations.

Despite the difference in sample sizes, the VF for participants in the present study (Table 5) was comparable with that in the study by Hussaindeen et al. (2017) among Indian children of a similar age range. For children under the age of 12 years, VF standards were higher compared to those among Swedish children (Gierow et al., 2014) and lower compared to those among Malaysian children (Chen and Abidin, 2002). The mean of VF in the present study (Table 1) is lower compared to 15.00 ± 3.0 cpm reported by Scheiman and Wick (2014) in a wider age-ranged population, representing a difference of approximately 2 cpm (Table 5). The difference in MAF between the right and left eyes in the present study aligns with other studies (Scheiman et al., 1988; Darko-Takyi et al., 2022; Chen and Abidin, 2002). Accommodative function is monocular (von Noorden and Campos, 2002), and the dominant eye is found to exhibit higher AF than the non-dominant eye (Momeni-Moghaddam et al., 2014; Odigie et al., 2019). The lower BAF measurements compared to the MAF in this study align with previous studies (Scheiman et al., 1988; Burge, 1979; Chen and Abidin, 2002; Jimenez et al., 2004; Scheiman and Wick, 2014; Gierow et al., 2014; Hussaindeen et al., 2017; Darko-Takyi et al., 2022; Wajuihian, 2019). Binocular vision processing involves additional functions and factors such as vergence and fusion, beyond accommodation for each eye, which can interfere with the speed and slow down binocular accommodative function compared to monocular accommodative functions (Kędzia et al., 1999). Moreover, convergence accommodation induced by binocular convergence can further slowdown the binocular accommodative facility. The higher range of VF measures compared to AF measures is comparable to studies by Gierow et al. (2014) and Chen and Abidin (2002).

4.3 Comparing AF and VF with demographic parameters

The gender differences in AF and VF in this study were not clinically significant and aligned with findings from a study on Swedish children (Gierow et al., 2014). The absence of a significant link between age and AF matches results from another study on Ghanaian children of a similar age (Darko-Takyi et al., 2022). The inverse relationship between age and VF observed here is similar to findings from a study on Indian children (Hussaindeen et al., 2017). The positive correlation between AF and VF agrees with the study among Indian children (Hussaindeen et al., 2017) and that of Scheiman and Wick (2014).

4.4 Limitation

The non-cycloplegic refraction utilized may imply that the children’s refractive system may not have been completely relaxed before VF and AF testing. This may overestimate the accommodative parameters, especially for children with latent hyperopia. However, the forging technique adopted for subjective refraction may correct for this. As the dominant eye exhibits more accommodation than the non-dominant eye, another limitation of the study was the lack of ocular dominance testing. The median imputation of the outliers instead of elimination may have affected the distribution of the data. Again, the lack of the use of standard and measurable methods of assessing reading proficiency may have influenced participants’ responses. However, all children who could not read the target appropriately were dropped out of the study.

5 Conclusion

The normative data for MAF and BAF for school children 8–17 years lie within a central tendency of 9–17 cpm and 9–14 cpm, respectively. The data was widely spread, with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 cpm for MAF, and a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 20 cpm for BAF. The normative data for VF for school children 8–17 years lie within a central tendency of 10 to 18 cpm; data is, however, widely spread, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 21 cpm. These values serve as standards for comparison to optometric clinical data on AF and VF during binocular vision case analysis for Ghanaian school children of similar ages.

Data availability statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics statement

The studies involving humans were approved by University of Cape Coast Institutional Review Board (Ref: UCCIRB/CHAS/2019/173). The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation in this study was provided by the participants’ legal guardians/next of kin.

Author contributions

CD-T: Investigation, Supervision, Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization, Writing – original draft, Formal analysis, Methodology, Visualization, Validation, Data curation. EM: Project administration, Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation. VY: Formal analysis, Data curation, Project administration, Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Investigation. SO: Investigation, Data curation, Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Formal analysis. KB: Writing – review & editing, Investigation, Formal analysis, Data curation, Methodology. CA: Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing, Investigation, Methodology. KO: Formal analysis, Data curation, Methodology, Investigation, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declared that financial support was not received for this work and/or its publication.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the School of Optometry and Vision Science of the University of Cape Coast for supporting the project with ophthalmic equipment.

Conflict of interest

The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Generative AI statement

The author(s) declared that Generative AI was not used in the creation of this manuscript.

Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

References

Alrasheed, S. H., Alluwimi, M. S., and Mohamed, Z. D. (2024). Normative values of accommodation functions in Saudi young adults in the Qassim region. Saudi J. Ophthalmol. 39, 389–394. doi: 10.4103/sjopt.sjopt_212_24

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Bertil, S., Maths, A., and Anders, S. (2001). The effects of accommodative facility training on a group of children with impaired relative accommodation- a comparison between dioptric treatment and sham treatment. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt. 21, 470–476. doi: 10.1016/S0275-5408(01)00020-5

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Blake, C. R., Lai, W. W., and Edward, D. P. (2003). Racial and ethnic differences in ocular anatomy. Int. Ophthalmol. Clin. 43, 9–25. doi: 10.1097/00004397-200343040-00004,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Borsting, E. J., Rouse, M. W., Mitchell, G. L., Scheiman, M., Cotter, S. A., Cooper, J., et al. (2003). Validity and reliability of the revised convergence insufficiency symptom survey in children aged 9 to 18 years. Optom. Vis. Sci. 80, 832–838. doi: 10.1097/00006324-200312000-00014,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Burge, S. (1979). Suppression during binocular accommodative rock. Opt. Monthly 79, 867–872.

Google Scholar

Chen, A. H., and Abidin, A. H. (2002). Vergence and accommodation system in Malay primary schoolchildren. Malays. J. Med. Sci. 9, 9–15.

Google Scholar

Chikuse, M., Mzumara, T., and Afonne, J. (2022). Establishing normative values for amplitude of accommodation and accommodative facility among university students in Malawi. Ophthalmol. Rese. Int. J. 17, 51–56. doi: 10.9734/OR/2022/v17i4372

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Cooper, J. S., Burns, C. R., Cotter, S. A., Daum, K. M., and Scheiman, M. M. (2011). Clinical practice guide: accommodative and vergence dysfunction : American Optometric Association 243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141–7881.

Google Scholar

Dadeya, S., Kamlesh,, and Shibal, F. (2001). The effect of anisometropia on binocular visual function. Indian J. Ophthalmol. 49, 261–263.

Google Scholar

Darko-Takyi, C., Vanessa, R. M., and Boadi-Kusi, S. B. (2022). Normative data for parameters of accommodation in African schoolchildren. Optom. Vis. Sci. 99, 259–266. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001844,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Davis, A. L., Harvey, E. M., Twelker, J. D., Miller, J. M., Leonard-Green, T., and Campus, I. (2016). Convergence insufficiency, accommodative insufficiency, visual symptoms, and astigmatism in Tohono O'odham students. J. Ophthalmol. 20, 2016:6963976. doi: 10.1155/2016/6963976

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Elsiddig, A. A., and Alrasheed, S. H. (2017). Assessment of the effect of academic examination stress on binocular vision functions among secondary school-aged children. Albasar Int. J. Ophthalmol. 4, 114–119. doi: 10.4103/bijo.bijo_16_18

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Gall, R., Wick, B., and Bedell, H. (1998). Vergence facility: establishing clinical utility. Optom. Vis. Sci. 75, 731–742. doi: 10.1097/00006324-199810000-00018,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Gierow, J. P., Varg, A., and Theogarayan, B. (2014). Amplitude of accommodation, accommodative and vergence facility in Swedish children. Invest Ophthalmol Visual Sci 55:757.

Google Scholar

Hussaindeen, J. R., Rakshit, A., Singh, N. K., Swaminathan, M., George, R., Kapur, S., et al. (2017). Binocular vision anomalies and normative data (BAND) in Tamil Nadu: report 1. Clin. Exp. Optom. 100, 278–284. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12475.,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Hussaindeen, J. R., Rakshit, A., Singh, N. K., Swaminathan, M., George, R., Kapur, S., et al. (2015). Binocular vision anomalies and normative data (Band) in Tamilnadu—study design and methods. Vis. Dev. Rehabil. 1, 260–270. doi: 10.31707/VDR2015.1.4.p260

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Jimenez, R., Perez, M. A., Garcia, J. A., and González, M. D. (2004). Statistical normal values of visual parameters that characterize binocular function in children. Ophthal Physiol Opt. 24, 528–542. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2004.00234.x,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Kędzia, B., Pieczyrak, D., Tondel, G., and Maples, C. W. (1999). Factors affecting the clinical testing of accommodative facility. Ophthalmol. Physiol. Opt. 19, 12–21.

Google Scholar

Kleinstein, R. N., Jones, L. A., Hullett, S., Kwon, S., Lee, R. J., Friedman, N. E., et al. (2003). Refractive error and ethnicity in children. Arch. Ophthalmol. 121, 1141–1147. doi: 10.1001/archopht.121.8.1141.

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Liu, J., Lee, M., Jang, J., Ciufreda, J. K., Wong, J. H., Grisham, D., et al. (1979). Objective assessment of accommodation orthoptics I. Dynamic insufficiency. Am. J. Optom. Physiol. Optic 56, 285–294.

Google Scholar

Majumber, C. (2015). Comparison of amplitudes of accommodation in different vertical viewing angles. Optom. Visual Perform. 3, 276–280.

Google Scholar

Marran, L., De Land, P., and Nguyen, A. (2006). Accommodative insufficiency is the primary source of symptoms in children diagnosed with convergence insufficiency. Optom. Vis. Sci. 83, 281–289. doi: 10.1097/01.opx.0000216097.78951.7b

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Momeni, H., Goss, D., and Dehvari, A. (2014). Vergence facility with stereoscopic and non-stereoscopic targets. Optom. Vis. Sci. Iran 91, 522–527. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000227

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Momeni-Moghaddam, H., McAlinden, C., Azimi, A., Sobhani, M., and Skiadaresi, E. (2014). Comparing the accommodative function between dominant and non-dominant eye. Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol. 252, 509–514. doi: 10.1007/s00417-013-2480-7,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Odigie, O. M., Uwagboe, P. N., and Okpaghoro, O. P. (2019). Evaluation of accommodative function in the dominant and non dominant eye. Int. J. Res. Med. Sci. 7, 2250–2255. doi: 10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20192507

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Rouse, M., Borsting, E., Mitchell, G. L., Cotter, S. A., Kulp, M., Scheiman, M., et al. (2009). Validity of the convergence insufficiency symptom survey: a confirmatory study. Optom. Vis. Sci. 86, 357–363. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0b013e3181989252

Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Sassonov, O., Sassonov, Y., Koslowe, K., and Shneor, E. (2010). The effect of test sequence on measurement of positive and negative fusional vergence. Optom. Vis. Dev. 41, 24–27.

Google Scholar

Scheiman, M., Herzberg, H., Frantz, K., and Margolies, M. (1988). Normative study of accommodative facility in elementary schoolchildren. Optom. Vis. Sci. 65, 127–134. doi: 10.1097/00006324-198802000-00009,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Scheiman, M., and Wick, B. (2014). Clinical management of binocular vision: heterophoric, accommodative and eye movement disorders. 4th Edn. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Google Scholar

Siderov, J., and Johnston, A. (1990). The importance of the parameters in the clinical assessment of accommodative facility. Optom Visual Sci 67, 551–557.

Google Scholar

von Noorden, G. K., and Campos, E. C. (2002). Binocular vision and ocular motility: theory and management of strabismus. 6th Edn. Louis, MO: Mosby: A Harcourt Health Sciences Company.

Google Scholar

Wajuihian, S. O. (2019). Normative values for clinical measures used to classify accommodative and vergence anomalies in a sample of high school children in South Africa. J Optom. 12, 143–160. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.03.005,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Wang, D., Huang, G., He, M., Wu, L., and Lin, S. (2012). Comparison of anterior ocular segment biometry features and related factors among American caucasians, American Chinese and main land Chinese. Clin. Experiment. Ophthalmol. 40, 542–549. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2011.02746.x,

PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: binocular accommodative facility, Ghanaian children, monocular accommodative facility, normative data, vergence facility

Citation: Darko-Takyi C, Manu E, Yirrah V, Owusu S, Boakye KO, Abraham CH and Osei KO (2026) Normative data for accommodative facility and vergence facility in a sample of African school children aged 8–17 years. Front. Neurosci. 20:1742375. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2026.1742375

Received: 08 November 2025; Revised: 05 January 2026; Accepted: 12 January 2026;
Published: 26 January 2026.

Edited by:

Ana Sanchez-Cano, University of Zaragoza, Spain

Reviewed by:

Michael A Robichaux, West Virginia University, United States
J. Margaret Woodhouse, Cardiff University, United Kingdom

Copyright © 2026 Darko-Takyi, Manu, Yirrah, Owusu, Boakye, Abraham and Osei. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Charles Darko-Takyi, Y2hhcmxlcy5kYXJrby10YWt5aUB1Y2MuZWR1Lmdo

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.