Vision Therapy Can Improve Focusing Problems Due to Convergence Insufficiency
Is double or blurry vision a problem when you try to thread a needle or read a paragraph in a book? Your vision difficulties could be caused by convergence insufficiency, a vision disorder that affects your focusing ability. Whether convergence insufficiency is a recent problem, or you've experienced focusing issues your entire life, vision therapy could help you focus on the fine print.
What Is Convergence Insufficiency?
Your eyes constantly adjust as you shift your focus from far to medium to near distances.
Focusing on near objects requires good binocular vision (the ability to use both eyes together). Eye movements must be coordinated, and the eyes must work as a team.
When you shift your focus from the TV to the words on a page or screen, your eyes must turn inward slightly. If you have convergence insufficiency, one or both eyes may turn outward instead of inward. This shift may not be noticeable, yet can still cause vision problems. As a result, your brain receives slightly different information from each eye, which makes it difficult to produce one clear image. Instead, you may see two of everything or experience blurred vision.
Blurry or double vision may worsen the longer you focus on a near object and can be accompanied by headaches, eyestrain, and fatigue. Convergence insufficiency makes reading difficult. You may lose your place often or notice the words on the page move or jump. Slow reading and inability to concentrate or remember what you've read can be signs of convergence insufficiency. Covering one eye or squinting may make reading easier.
Do you suffer from motion sickness? Although motion sickness can be caused by an inner ear issue, it may also happen if you have convergence insufficiency.
What Causes Convergence Insufficiency?
Convergence insufficiency affects 7.5% of the population, according to the Journal of Optometry. The disorder occurs due to a communication problem between the nerves and the muscles that control eye movements. The nerves send messages to the muscles that tell them how and when to move. The muscles may not receive correct or complete instructions if you have convergence insufficiency,
You may be more likely to develop convergence insufficiency due to:
- Genetics. People with a family history of convergence insufficiency may be more likely to develop the disorder.
- Injuries. Symptoms can start after a head injury.
- Stroke. Convergence insufficiency is among the vision problems you may face after a stroke.
- Diseases. Your risk of convergence insufficiency may be greater if you have Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or an autoimmune disease, such as myasthenia gravis or Grave's disease.
Improving Convergence Insufficiency Symptoms with Vision Therapy
Treating convergence insufficiency symptoms is essential. Without treatment, the brain may ignore signals from one eye, creating additional vision problems that range from poor depth perception to coordination issues.
This disorder can affect your child's school and sports performance and could be the reason your son or daughter doesn't like reading, gets poor grades, or doesn't enjoy sports. Adults suffer just as much as children, whether symptoms are recent or have been present for years.
Vision therapy improves communication between the eye muscles and the brain and nerves. The specially tailored vision therapy plan your vision therapist prepares for you or your child may include filters or prism eyeglass lenses that help your eyes focus. Therapy also includes exercises, games, and activities that gradually improve your focusing and eye-teaming abilities.
Computer or virtual reality games might be part of your vision therapy plan. While you're shooting a basketball or popping bubbles, you'll be improving your convergence insufficiency symptoms. In a research study published in BMC Ophthalmology in 2022, 12 weeks of virtual reality vision therapy significantly improved binocular vision skills in young adults with convergence insufficiency or accommodative dysfunction.
Vision therapy can be just as helpful for you or your child. The process starts with a comprehensive vision exam in our office to identify your vision issues. Call us to schedule your exam with the vision therapist.
Sources:
NCBI: Journal of Optometry: Convergence Insufficiency: Review of Clinical Diagnostic Signs, 10 - 12/2022
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9537264/
PubMed: BMC Ophthalmology: Virtual Reality-Based Vision Therapy versus OBVAT in the Treatment of Convergency Insufficiency, Accommodative Dysfunction: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, 4/21/2022
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35448970/
National Eye Institute: Convergence Insufficiency, 10/23/2019
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/convergence-insufficiency
American Optometric Association: Convergence Insufficiency
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/convergence-insufficiency?sso=y