To evaluate the objective amplitude of accommodation in various age groups using an autorefractometer and to compare the results with subjective assessments on accommodation. Objective accommodative amplitude of artificial lenses in post-operative cataract patients was also measured.

In this study, 41 patients who visited Korea University Guro Hospital from July through August 2014 were categorized into 6 different age groups. Accommodative amplitude was measured using long-distance refraction at 5 m and short-distance refraction at 20 cm. In 20 patients, subjective amplitude of accommodation was measured using the minus lens technique and was compared with the measured objective accommodative amplitude. Accommodative amplitude was also measured in 8 patients who received cataract surgery.

The mean accommodative ability in normal people was 2.38 D. The age groups of 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and over 60 years showed accommodative amplitudes of 3.31 ± 0.99 D, 3.25 ± 0.34 D, 3.78 ± 0.68 D, 1.00 ± 0.60 D, 0.22 ± 0.23 D, 0.00 ± 0.00 D, respectively. The results showed a rapid decrease in accommodative ability of patients older than 40 years and demonstrated a correlation between objective and subjective amplitude of accommodation (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.838). There was a significant difference between objective and subjective accommodative amplitudes in artificial lenses ( p = 0.015), with average objective and subjective measures of 0.10 ± 0.23 D and 0.59 ± 0.35 D, respectively.

Measuring amplitude of accommodation using an autorefractometer can be useful in assessing results of presbyopia treatment.