Convergence Insufficiency

#1

Cause of Eye Strain

What is Convergence Insufficiency (CI)?

Convergence Insufficiency is a common eye-teaming problem in which the eyes have difficulty turning in to read and see during near work.

Convergence Insufficiency is the #1 visual issue to cause eyestrain, blurry vision, double vision (diplopia), and/or headaches and may also lead to loss of concentration and frequent loss of place when reading and working up close. 

In order to not see double, a person must use extra effort to make the eyes turn in to bring the images into alignment. This extra effort can lead to symptoms such as eye strain, blurred or double vision.

Children with Convergence Insufficiency have more symptoms and poorer attention when reading.

Research has shown that treatment using office-based Optometric Vision Therapy improves symptoms in children affected with Convergence Insufficiency. Some studies have suggested that this treatment also results in improvements in reading and attention.

CI and Children

Convergence Insufficiency unfortunately goes undiagnosed in children because the necessary testing is not included in eye tests at the pediatrician’s office, school eye screenings, or basic eye exams. A common myth is 20/20 eyesight means you have perfect vision. You can have 20/20 eyesight and still have convergence insufficiency. Eyesight and vision are not synonymous. Convergence Insufficiency is a vision problem, and involves the functioning of the eye-brain connections necessary to make sense of what we see and to be able to do it quickly and automatically.

Read more about Eyesight VS Vision on the blog

Because approximately 80% of learning at school is based on vision (visual skills and visual processing), if Convergence Insufficiency goes undiagnosed, it can have a dramatic impact on classroom performance.

Read more about vision related learning problems.

Is It Treatable?

YES!

A wealth of research has shown that office-based Optometric Vision Therapy is the MOST effective way to treat Convergence Insufficiency. Many options have been attempted in the past including: specialty prism lenses, pencil push-ups (eye exercises), and computer programs. Each one of these has failed in comparison to office-based Optometric Vision Therapy. Research showed it wasn’t even close!

Take a look here at the research on the NIH National Eye Institute Website.

We have been successfully treating patients with convergence insufficiency with over 90% success rate!

Don’t settle for an inferior treatment like a computer program that is expected to provide you/your child with the visual abilities to remediate convergence insufficiency.  

Occasionally, convergence issues can be isolated, but more commonly they present with deficits in eye focusing and eye tracking. These can cause a significant burden on the eyes and lead to frustration, fatigue, and headaches when performing work such as reading or computer use.

Contrary to what you’ve maybe been told, Vision Therapy for convergence insufficiency doesn’t have to be expensive. We have developed a program to address the visual issue and meet your needs.

At Nebraska Visual Integration Center, we treat patients with convergence insufficiency and help them improve their visual functioning so activities like reading, computer work and other near activities can be done without eye strain or headaches. 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (402) 502-0043.

Brain Injury Vision + Learning

Dr. Gates Bio

Dr. Gates bio information here

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