Binocular accommodation reaction and response times for normal observers.

Accommodation was recorded from right and left eyes of visually normal observers in both binocular and monocular viewing. Reaction and response times were similar in monocular and binocular viewing and are not influenced by eye dominance. Far-to-near responses were significantly quicker than near-to-far responses. The origin of this difference may be a feature of the elastic properties of the accommodation mechanism. Limited data are presented that indicate that the slowing of accommodation speed with age affects the near-to-far response disproportionally. Errors in the initial direction of response were fewer in binocular viewing in comparison with monocular viewing.