Vision Therapy For Convergence Insufficiency
Serving Vaughan, North York, Mississauga, Brampton
What Is Convergence Insufficiency?
Comfortable viewing requires integration and cooperation of two parts of the visual system. The ability to Focus is how we identify detail. The Vergence system aligns the two eyes in the direction of the target. These systems are linked. When a person brings their eyes together to view a target they must first calculate where to look and they need the focusing system to identify the target.
If these systems are not working properly double vision can result. Double vision is catastrophic to the visual system. In the case of reading, double vision results in text that can look like it is moving, doubled, jumbled or out of focus.
Convergence Insufficiency is often described as an “inability to converge on a near target”, however, it is actually a problem knowing where to look.
A study of almost 700 5th and 6th-grade students showed a 13% rate of convergence insufficiency. Other estimates are as low as 2.5% of the population. Vision therapy gives the individual the opportunity to understand where to align the two eyes for accurate viewing.
Visual Symptoms of Convergence Insufficiency
- Eyestrain (especially during or after reading)
- headaches
- blurred vision
- double vision
- inability to concentrate
- short attention span
- frequent loss of place
- squinting
- rubbing
- closing or covering an eye
- reduced reading comprehension
Often, these visual signs are confused with
- Dyslexia
- ADD
- ADHD
- Learning Disabilities
- Behavioural Issues
What can be done For Convergence Insufficiency?
Vision therapy is proven to be the most effective way to treat convergence insufficiency. An important study concluded that vision therapy was more effective in treating CI when compared to computer training programs or pencil push-ups.
What does Vision Therapy look like?
- Give the individual the opportunity to see a new way of looking.
- Glasses for distance or reading
- Use of prism, tints or partial field occlusion
- Vision therapy to improve focusing and eye movement ability
- Tints for photophobia
- Colour for relaxation or stimulation of systems
What is a Behavioural Optometrist?
A Behavioural Optometrist takes post graduate education courses in the neurological approach to vision and its development. Behavioural Optometry works with complex visual problems including Traumatic Brain injury to improve function and visual performance.
Find More Information On These Trusted Sites
NORA Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association www.noravisionrehab.com
Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation COVT&R www.visiontherapycanada.com
Optometric Extension Program Foundation www.oepf.org
College of Vision Development www.COVD.org
Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists ACBO www.acbo.org.au