Convergence Insufficiency Treatment

Published on

April 30, 2022

Convergence Insufficiency is an eye condition in which your eyes are not able to work together as a team. As you bring an object closer to your eyes, your eyes have to converge or come together more but in this particular condition, the eyes are unable to do that in a coordinated effortConvergence insufficiency (CI) is an eye disorder that affects about 5-15% of the children in the United States and can have a significant impact on school and work performance.

Symptoms

The symptoms of convergence insufficiency can include:

Blurry or double vision when reading or performing other near tasks
Headaches
Eye strain
Eye pain when reading or performing your work
Words that seem to move across the page
Anxiety and muscle tension
Inability to recall what you’ve read despite focusing intensely

Treatment of convergence insufficiency with vision therapy

Convergence insufficiency can be treated most effectively with vision therapy. The treatment helps patients with convergence insufficiency by training their eyes to concentrate and converge properly. Patients are assigned a variety of tasks and exercises both in the office and at home in order to enhance their neuroplastic development and to help their eyes to function properly. The National Eye Institute published the results of a gold standard double blind treatment trial which compared the results of individuals with convergence insufficiency who attended office therapy, home based activities and were placed in a placebo group. According to the findings of this study, vision therapy is the most effective treatment for convergence insufficiency.

Vision therapy performed in-office generally takes about 6 months to be effective, however since therapy is highly individualized the length will depend on the visual needs and progress of each patient. Our brains can learn new things through a process called neuroplasticity (think about learning to ride a bicycle), the goal of vision therapy is to develop the visual skills needed to enable our eyes to converge as a team, thereby eliminating the difficulties of reading and other near tasks.

Other ways to treat convergence insufficiency

Treatments other than vision therapy are generally less effective in treating this condition. There are times when prism lenses are used, but this is generally used in complicated scenarios. A surgery is rarely performed, and only in extreme cases because it yields less-than-ideal results.

Testimonials

Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.

Amanda T.

Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.

Alexa H.

Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.

He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.

It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!

Charlotte M.

Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.

Thank you!

Olivia C.

Seems much less frustrated with life

Reads non-stop and fast

Spelling abilities have been hugely improved

Seems much more confident

Thank You!!!

Kelly O.

When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!