Convergence Insufficiency: Facts and Info

Welcome!

Wisconsin CI ProjectYou’re probably here because your Optometrist diagnosed you or your child with Convergence Insufficiency (CI). CI affects up to 8.3%1 of children and the prevalence is likely similar in adults. Unfortunately, it is commonly missed in vision screenings and even some eye exams.

Fortunately, your optometrist is up to date on evidence-based diagnostic techniques for CI as part of the Wisconsin CI Project! The goal of this project is to identify and treat every child (and adult) in Wisconsin with CI so they can perform to the best of their ability.

You may have lots of questions about this diagnosis, the first probably being, “What is CI?”

Convergence Insufficiency is a problem with eye teaming that primarily affects a person’s performance on tasks within arm’s length. In order to view objects that are close to you, your eyes have to move in towards your nose, or converge. When you have difficulty converging your eyes or sustaining convergence, it can lead to the following symptoms:

  • Double Vision
  • Blurry Vision
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Eye Strain
  • Eye Pain
  • Light Sensitivity

Additionally, a person with CI may also experience:

  • Difficulty Maintaining Attention on Tasks
  • Reduced Efficiency and Productivity
  • Diminished Performance with Time
  • Loss of Place When Reading

The next question that you have may be, “What can be done to treat CI?”

Initial treatment of CI will involve one or more of the following treatment options, prescribed by your Optometrist:

  • Visual Stress Reduction
  • Prescription Glasses for Nearpoint Tasks
  • Home Optometric Vision Therapy Techniques

If the symptoms of CI don’t resolve with initial treatment, the gold standard for treatment according to the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial is a combination of office and home-based optometric vision therapy. Your Optometrist will help you determine if and when you need a referral for this treatment.

Although CI can have a significant negative impact on performance in school, sports and work, it can be treated!

1Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline: Comprehensive Pediatric Eye and Vision Examination. American Optometric Association, 2017.

 

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