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Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a common eye coordination problem in which the eyes lose the ability to pull close together when reading, using a computer or doing any other type of near work.
Convergence insufficiency is a common eye coordination problem in which the eyes lose the ability to pull close together when reading, using a computer or doing any other type of near work. It is not caused by any psychological problem or nervousness.
CI may be present but only bothersome when reading if the person has difficulty focusing on small print or text from a distance, such as from across the room or from behind glass (such as through a window). This can be caused by either reduced flexibility of fixation (the range at which you fixate) or abnormal extraocular muscle control that causes excessive convergence (the movement needed to bring them together).
If you experience any of these symptoms, see an eye doctor to determine whether or not you have convergence insufficiency
Children with undiagnosed CI may experience problems with reading comprehension, word recognition and attention. Symptoms of CI may include eyestrain, double vision, blurred vision, headaches and tired eyes after reading or doing close work.
Vision therapy is a series of exercises and activities designed to improve visual skills and eye movement. In most cases, vision therapy takes place in an office or clinic under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or psychologist trained in the treatment of binocular vision problems.
Vision therapy can help with symptoms such as:
It's important for you to know about the benefits and risks of vision therapy before considering it for convergence insufficiency.
Convergence insufficiency is a problem with eye coordination. The eyes must work together to see clearly. This is called binocular vision, and it happens when the eyes are looking at something straight ahead, such as abuilding or book.
The muscles that control each eye must work together to keep both eyes pointing in the same direction while they look at an object. The muscles that control convergence (converging) are inside each eye, where they move back and forth to turn your eyes inward toward each other as you look at close objects.
Convergence insufficiency can make it difficult to use both sides ofyour brain at the same time because one side sees more clearly than the otherside does when you move from far away things like buildings into closer things like books or computer screens. When this happens, your brain wants only onepart of its visual system working at a time instead of both parts workingtogether so you can see properly all around you without straining yourself too much!
In order to diagnose convergence insufficiency, an eye doctor will use a variety of exams and tests to get a complete picture of your visual abilities and how they work together.
One way they might do this is by doing eye movements at the same time. Your eyes should move together as you follow instructions while the doctor observes both of them at the same time with special lenses that are placed in front of both eyes. The doctor will test your ability to focus on objects at different distances, such as when you bring something closer or farther away from your face (like reading).
Another test for CI is called a cover test, where one eye is kept covered as the other moves around freely to check for double vision caused by lateral deviations (side-to-side movement) when that eye moves inward toward its nose instead of straight ahead (straight movement).
If you or someone you know has symptoms of CI, talk to an eye doctor. If left untreated, CI can make it hard to read and do other activities that require near vision.
