Accommodation and the dynamics of the steady-state intraocular pressure.

In young individuals, the C-values of tonograms obtained during accommodation were shown to be significantly greater than those obtained on the same eye when accommodation was completely relaxed. In the same group, the Schiotz pressure reading was found to be lower following 4 minutes of accommodation. Thus, the increase in C-values could not be interpreted to reflect exclusively the change in outflow facility because of the uncertainty of the presence of steady-state conditions during accommodation. In the cat, electrical stimulation of the parasympathetic nerves was shown to affect markedly the dynamics of the steady-state intraocular pressure, which produced an increase in outflow facility and a simultaneous increase in inflow rate. The effect of accommodation on the intraocular pressure level was further studied in the human being, with Goldmann's applanation tonometer to monitor the pressure level at regular intervals of time. It