Convergence Insufficiency

Teen girl rubbing eyes

Convergence insufficiency is a relatively common eye condition that is typically diagnosed in childhood. A study of two large optometry clinics found that 17.6% of children who received vision exams had convergence insufficiency. As this disorder may cause difficulty focusing on written pages, some children with convergence insufficiency are actually diagnosed with learning disability rather than a vision problem. This highlights the necessity of receiving a comprehensive eye exam that tests for this vision problem.

What Is Convergence Insufficiency?

Convergence insufficiency is an eye disorder in which the eyes do not work together properly when focusing on a nearby object. In general, looking at a close object causes the eyes to turn inward, allowing them to focus. If the eyes drift outward, this prevents accurate focusing and is labeled convergence insufficiency.

Symptoms of convergence insufficiency typically manifest when reading, writing, or doing other work that requires focusing on a nearby object. Common symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Double vision
  • Eyestrain
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty reading. Many patients report that the words seem to swim on the page or blur.
  • Squinting or closing one eye when doing close-up work.

Diagnosis of Convergence Insufficiency

Unfortunately, convergence insufficiency is commonly missed on basic eye exams such as those performed as screening tools at school. A child may seem to have 20/20 vision but still suffer from convergence insufficiency and its associated symptoms.

An optometrist can diagnose convergence insufficiency during a comprehensive vision exam. First, the eye doctor will take a history of signs and symptoms associated with this disorder. Next, the optometrist will conduct a thorough vision exam to detect nearsightedness or other vision problems. Finally, the eye doctor will test the ability of the eyes to focus on nearby objects. This may involve asking the patient to hold the eyes together to focus on a small object or to read through a prism.

Treatment Options

Unlike many other eye problems, convergence insufficiency is not easily treated by eyeglasses (although reading glasses with built-in prisms may be prescribed). Instead, vision therapy exercises teach the eyes how to converge to focus accurately on an object. Your eye doctor can recommend exercises to perform at home or in the office. This may include focusing on a small letter as you move it toward the bridge of your nose, improving the ability of the eyes to turn inward to focus.

Location

Office Hours

Monday:

9:30 am-5:30 pm

Tuesday:

11:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

Closed

Thursday:

11:00 am-8:00 pm

Friday:

9:30 am-5:30 pm

Saturday:

9:30 am-2:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

Reviews From Our Satisfied Patients

  • "I have been going here for 25 years. Each visit, Dr. Waksman and his staff go above and beyond for their clients. I always recommend Erie Optical! Excellent variety of frames as well."
    Christine Rowles (Local Guide) via Google
  • "Dr. Waldman is outstanding! He's professional, detail oriented and passionate about keeping eyes healthy. I've been a customer for over 25 years and highly recommend Erie Optical."
    Mindy Baierl via Google
  • "The services are excellent from start to finish. The Doctor & his Staff takes the necessary time to answer all your questions. I recommend them to all my family & friends. They accept most insurance plans. Karen is my favorite!!"
    Hope Gibson via Google
  • ""I have been going to Erie Optical for 3 years now. My sister referred me to Dr. Waldman after her great experience with him and the office. We had a previous eye doctor and the experience was not good and they charged so much. So when I went to Erie Optical I was so pleased with the office and Dr. Waldman's expertise and thoroughness. I ended up referring my parents and grandmother to Erie Optical too. I will never going anywhere else!!!""
    Angela Kovacs
  • ""They are the best- Doc Waldman takes his time with you and the staff members, like Karen, Brigit, Linda do everything they can to help you look and feel good, after all, fitting glasses is not a job for everyone!!
    You can’t go wrong there and the service is the best!""
    Rickster