UC-Cube for measuring Accommodation

The Ulster-Cardiff Accommodation CUBE has been developed collaboratively by researchers and clinicians at Ulster University and Cardiff University to provide a quick, objective measure of accommodative function (focusing accuracy) in optometric, orthoptic and ophthalmological practice.

• Read more about UC-CUBE

  We have used the UC-CUBE for many years to assess accommodation in babies, young children and those with communication difficulties. Our research, and that of others, has shown that difficulties in producing and maintaining accurate accommodation are extremely common amongst children with special needs and are not uncommon in typically developing children.1,2

  Research conducted at Ulster demonstrated that the UC-CUBE provides a repeatable and reliable measure of accommodation and we have published normative data to allow clinicians to identify responses that are atypical and require intervention or management.3,4

  To assess accommodative accuracy, the UC-CUBE simply requires the patient to look at illuminated high contrast pictures. Pictures with varying levels of detail are available to allow testing of patients with a range of visual acuities (from approximately 6/250). Retinoscopy is used to evaluate the accuracy of the patient’s focus while they view the target. A measurement of the size of any defocus can quickly be made using the ruler and evaluated as within or outside normal limits.

  An interchangeable target also allows the UC-CUBE to be used to assess accommodative amplitude, convergence and near visual acuity using targets similar to those available on the traditional RAF rule.

• References
  1. McClelland et al. 2006 Accommodative dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy: a population-based study.
  2. Anketell et al. 2018 Accommodative Function in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  3. McClelland and Saunders 2003 The repeatability and validity of dynamic retinoscopy in assessing the accommodative response.
  4. McClelland and Saunders. 2004 Accommodative lag using dynamic retinoscopy: age norms for school-age children.