Jul 15, 2017 recent studies indicate that officebased therapy with home reinforcement is the most effective treatment for convergence insufficiency. In fact, many children with convergence insufficiency are often misdiagnosed with a learning disability, dyslexia or addadhd. Convergence insufficiency symptoms include double vision, headaches when reading, squinting, problems concentrating on near work and blurred vision during longer periods of reading or when tired 2. Convergence insufficiency the vision therapy center, inc. The nei convergence insufficiency treatment trial citt has shown that the most effective treatment for ci is inoffice therapy, overseen by a trained therapist, with additional athome exercises. Convergence insufficiency ci is a common and distinct binocular vision disorder that affects approximately 4% of school age children and adults in the united states. Amblyoplay is a vision therapy solution for children with lazy eye, mild strabismus or convergence insufficiency that is performed through playing therapeutic games and exercises every day for 30 minutes. Many bright children struggle with reading and learning due to a common, yet correctable binocular vision disorder called convergence insufficiency ci. The mean sd ciss scores at baseline and the 4, 8, and 12week examinations for the four treatment groups. Vision therapy and convergence insufficiency, greenville, sc. Convergence is the ability to accurately coordinate the eyes to focus on an object in space. Sometimes children with one or more disorders of binocular vision may also need special glasses or prisms, but studies show that the most effective treatment is vision therapy inoffice.
Convergence insufficiency ci is a common binocular vision disorder 14 that is often associated with a variety of symptoms including eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, diplopia, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, movement of print, and loss of comprehension after short periods of reading or performing close activities. Getz, od, fcovd, faao this article by an eye doctor discusses children s problems with reading, learning, and behavior caused by convergence insufficiency. As an example, where vision therapy can be used as part of the treatment of a learning disability, consider that researchers at the childrens eye center, university of san diego, uncovered a relationship between a common vision disorder, convergence insufficiency, and adhd. The convergence insufficiency treatment trial citt was a nationwide randomized clinical trial funded by the national eye institute, and it was preceded by several other randomized clinical trials. Brent received vision therapy for convergence insufficiency, and he experience improved behavior and no more double vision. Some eye doctors are strong advocates for vision therapy and testify to its benefits especially for certain vision problems of children.
A randomized clinical trial of treatments for convergence. The eyes are aligned no eye turn with convergence insufficiency and the dysfunction arises from the coordination of binocular vision skills rather than a misalignment of the eyes. The nei convergence insufficiency treatment trial citt has shown that the most effective treatment for ci is inoffice therapy, overseen by a trained therapist. Reviewing the study, a mayo clinic press release stated that inoffice vision therapy is the preferred treatment for convergence insufficiency. If testing indicates irregularities, your eye doctor may recommend a vision therapy program. Children suspected of having convergence insufficiency. Inouye below is a thankyou letter sent to an eye doctor who provides optometric vision therapy or visual training. It is part of the process involved in seeing a single, threedimensional image.
Convergence insufficiency diagnosis and treatment mayo clinic. Convergence insufficiency exercises for children healthfully. But home treatment costs less and is more convenient and more readily available. Vision therapy effectively treats convergence insufficiency. Then again, depending on the degree to which the convergence insufficiency is affecting your little ones vision, software may be the best way to go. Vision therapy generally includes practice converging and focusing on objects with both eyes at various distances. While vision therapy clearly helps in amblyopia wearing an eye patch improves vision in the lazy eye and in convergence insufficiency. Testing children for accommodative and convergence disorders. To determine the effectiveness of vision therapy among korean elementary school children with convergence insufficiency. Vision therapy is an individualized program of visual activities and exercises directed by a developmental optometrist and supervised by a vision. Games, michael gallaway, od vision therapy for children. Children suspected of having convergence insufficiency should be examined by an eye doctor to assess if further treatment is necessary 2.
A vision exam suggested his eyes did not work well together binocular vision, eye teaming skills, convergence insufficiency and we were referred to dr. As noted in the aoas clinical practice guideline cpg on care of the. Since vision therapy, eric has progressed to a recent ninetyone percentile test score. It is perfect for the patients vision therapy homework that they do at home. Vision therapy is perhaps one of the most controversial topics in vision care. The study concluded that officebased vision therapy in conjunction with daily exercises at home is the only effective treatment option for convergence insufficiency.
Suppression visual perception the panq was going to blay in the qark. Change in the ciss between examinations for each treatment group. Vision therapy programs can increase a child s ability to converge the eyes, resulting in more comfortable vision at near, thus reducing symptoms. Diagnosis of primary convergence insufficiency is most common in children and young adults when they begin to experience symptoms from prolonged periods of near work. Vision exercises can be performed at home, but latest research shows that officebased vision therapy by an eyecare professional is superior to homebased therapy for vision problems such as convergence insufficiency, double vision, amblyopia and strabismus. The main treatment for convergence insufficiency is vision therapy. Computerized home vision therapy systems treatment for eye. The treatments aim to treat convergence insufficiency for which there is supporting evidence and a range of neurological, educational and spatial difficulties uses which are not supported by good evidence. Officebased therapy was found to be more effective than homebased and placebo therapy in children. Jul 15, 2017 convergence insufficiency is a condition in which your eyes are unable to work together when looking at nearby objects. Convergence insufficiency common near vision disorder recent scientific research funded by the national eye institute and conducted at mayo clinic has proven that inoffice vision therapy is the best treatment for convergence insufficiency. Children with vision problems misdiagnosed with add adhd convergence insufficiency drugfree solutions attention deficit disorder. While not all insurance plans cover vision therapy, if your insurance plan does then binocular instabilities such as convergence insufficiency are the most likely diagnosis that qualifies for coverage. Various types of vision therapy orthoptics are prescribed for children with symptomatic convergence insufficiency ci.
If you think that you or your child might benefit from a vision therapy or myopia control evaluation but do not have an optometrist specializing. This condition causes one eye to turn outward instead of inward with the other eye creating double or blurred vision. Convergence insufficiency amblyoplay vision therapy. Convergence insufficiency symptoms and causes mayo clinic. Many children are able to avoid the effects of convergence insufficiency by using extra effort to make their eyes turn back in. As a result, it would be of interest to determine if symptomatic convergence insufficiency children. For this reason, surgery should not be recommended to treat convergence insufficiency.
A followup study revealed that among 221 children ages 9 to 17 years with symptomatic convergence insufficiency, 73 percent receiving officebased vision therapy combined with home exercises had. Resources for convergence insufficiency diagnosis available the 2008 convergence insufficiency treatment trial clearly supports the superiority of officebased vision therapy to homebased vision therapy alone for convergence insufficiency. Vision therapy eye exercises as treatment for amblyopia lazy eye, strabismus crossed eyes, convergence insufficiency disorder, etc stressrelated visual problems blurred vision, visual stress from reading and computers, eye strain headaches, andor vision. To learn all about convergence insufficiency, go to. These new, revolutionary programs will significantly improve your patients binocular and perceptual vision skills, while putting minimal demands on your time. The extra effort, however, can lead to symptoms such as eye strain, blurred vision, double vision. Convergence insufficiency cook vision therapy marietta. However, if money is an issue and convergence insufficiency is the only problem, make a brock string. Vision therapy a type of physical therapy for the eyes and brain is a highly effective nonsurgical treatment for many common visual problems such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, double vision, convergence insufficiency and some reading and learning disabilities. Visual information processing evaluation and orthoptic and vision therapy page 2 of 15 unitedhealthcare commercial medical policy effective 12012019 proprietary information of unitedhealthcare. In 2008, the national eye institute released the results of a major multicenter research study designed to look at multiple methods of treatment for convergence insufficiency. Classroom accommodations for students with visual issues. Treatment for common vision disorder does not improve. Often described as a kind of physical therapy for the eyes, vision therapy is a series of exercises aimed at helping children whose eyes dont work together properly.
This eye muscle imbalance can be made more pronounced if the child does not have adequate core and neck strength. Optometric vision therapy has nothing to do with exercising eye muscles to improve strength. You will probably be referred to one that specializes in vision therapy. Convergence insufficiency often misdiagnosed as addadhd vision therapy can help vision therapy is very successful in treating this convergence insufficiency. Other treatment optionsincluding home exercises called pencil pushups and computer software programswere significantly less effective than officebased vision therapy. In a randomized clinical trial, 221 children ages 9 to 17 years. Convergence insufficiency vision therapy for children. Inouye below is a thankyou letter sent to an eye doctor who provides optometric vision therapy or visual. Thankfully, the vision therapy institute can correct ci for patients of all ages. Because convergence is a skill that a person learns and develops, it can be improved with vision therapy. While the majority of eye care professionals treat children diagnosed with ci using some form of homebased therapy, a new. Hts can provide you with a list of doctors in your area who provide the computerized hts home vision therapy program. Vision rehabilitation for convergence insufficiency in vancouver, b. Effectiveness of vision therapy in school children with.
Convergence insufficiency is an eye condition that causes headaches andor double vision when the patient focuses on a nearby object. It involves an individualized program of eye exercises designed to correct vision problems, such as. Your costs will be fully explained to you during the patient education visit. When we read or look at anything close, the eyes have to cross or converge slightly in towards the nose to allow single vision. Treatment kinetics mitchell scheiman, marjean taylor kulp, susan cotter, g. Vision therapyorthoptics for symptomatic convergence. Convergence insufficiency common near vision disorder recent scientific research funded by the national eye institute and conducted at mayo clinic has proven that in office vision therapy is the best treatment for convergence insufficiency. Vision therapy solutions improve your patients binocular. Vision therapy can retrain your childs eye muscles to meet the visual demands of todays school environment. Some cases of convergence insufficiency are successfully managed by prescription of eyeglasses, sometimes with therapeutic prisms. Diagnosis of convergence insufficiency ci individuals with convergence insufficiency might have otherwise normal vision 2020, so it is important to mention reading or learning concerns to your eye care provider.
Citt compared inoffice vision therapy to two types of homebased vision therapy as well as officebased placebo therapy. Lynn mitchell, michael gallaway, mark boas, rachel coulter, kristine hopkins, susanna tamkins. Its excellent, especially for convergence insufficiency. Convergence insufficiency minnesota vision therapy center. Children and adults with visual challenges, such as. But other eye doctors are not convinced of vision therapys effectiveness and do not recommend it. Vision therapy vt is an umbrella term for a variety of treatments based around eye exercises. The convergence insufficiency treatment trial study group abstract purpose. Methods in a randomized, multicenter clinical trial, 47 children 9 to 18 years of age with. To evaluate the kinetics of change in symptoms and signs of convergence insufficiency ci during 12 weeks of treatment with commonly prescribed vision therapy orthoptic treatment regimens. Ci is a vision disorder in which the eyes do not work together easily. Objective to compare vision therapy orthoptics, pencil pushups, and placebo vision therapy orthoptics as treatments for symptomatic convergence insufficiency in children 9 to 18 years of age. How will i know if vision therapy for convergence insufficiency will really help my child s reading problem.
Convergence insufficiency results from difficulty maintaining the eyes in this crossed posture. Convergence insufficiency may be treated with convergence exercises prescribed by an eyecare specialist trained in orthoptics or binocular vision anomalies see. Diagnosing convergence insufficiency hand in hand homeschool. Amblyoplay is a vision therapy solution for children with lazy eye, mild strabismus or convergence insufficiency that is performed through playing therapeutic games and exercises every day for 30. Convergence insufficiency the vision development team. Convergence insufficiency treatment study cits full text. Convergence insufficiency is often associated with symptoms such as frequent loss of place while reading, loss of concentration, having to reread, reading slowly, poor. The following are excerpts from an article on vision, learning and nutrition by donald j. It can result in trouble with learning, but its a different issue than dyslexia. Vision therapy sessions administered by a medical professional such as a developmental optometrist are sometimes part of the solution for convergence insufficiency. Studies do suggest, however, that vision therapy may help with certain vision problems that can affect a childs ability to see, such as convergence insufficiency ci.
Vision therapy for convergence insufficiency proves highly. Convergence insufficiency convergence insufficiency is the most common eye muscle disorder among children and adults. I will say that it is important to find a great ophthalmologist, one who works with children. When it came to reducing symptoms of loss of concentration, headaches, etc. How can i help a child with convergence insufficiency ci. It appears nonsurgical vision therapy can be an effective treatment for convergence insufficiency. Binocular vision disorders convergence insufficiency convergence excess divergence insufficiency divergence excess 2. Vision therapy sessions administered by a medical professional such as a developmental optometrist. Vision therapy is not an exercise to increase strength of eye muscles. Often descriptions of vision therapy include the phrase vision exercises or physical therapy for your eyes, this phrasing, however, is misleading and here is why. Convergence insufficiencies in young children is most commonly caused by an eye muscle imbalance. Vision therapy also called vision training is like physical therapy for the visual system. Thank you for drawing attention to the use of vision therapy for resolving convergence insufficiency. Vision therapyorthoptics for symptomatic convergence insufficiency in children.
Convergence insufficiency is usually diagnosed in schoolage children and adolescents. Visual information processing evaluation and orthoptic and. Published research has shown that 73 percent of children with symptomatic convergence insufficiency had a successful or improved outcome following a 12week program of officebased vision therapy. Results from a clinical trial funded by the national eye institute nei show that while vision therapy can successfully treat convergence insufficiency ci in children, it fails to improve their reading test scores. Games, michael gallaway, od vision therapy for children and. Convergence insufficiency simply means that your eyes dont work together properly when looking at something up close. Vision therapy and convergence insufficiency by mrs. Tara alvarez and her students designed a video game based on the game galactica that functions as vision therapy. Childrens vision therapy for strabismus, amblyopia, etc. Vision therapy for convergence insufficiency proves highly effective make an appointment. One eye might check out while the other overcompensates, possibly creating double or blurred vision. Vision therapy usually does not cure the condition. Gallaway was part of revealed that 50% of adolescents with concussions had problems with eye teaming, focusing and tracking that made returning to school and sports more difficult.
Inouye writes this about her son, garrett, and his former reading difficulties which were greatly relieved following successful completion of a supervised program of. After vision therapy, troys headaches have disappeared and. The only problem, you can only purchase it through an optometrist. How will i know if vision therapy for convergence insufficiency will really help my child s. Vision therapy a type of physical therapy for the eyes and brain is a highly effective nonsurgical treatment for many common visual problems such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, double vision, convergence insufficiency. Vision therapy is a highly effective nonsurgical treatment for many common visual problems such as lazy eye amblyopia, crossed eyes strabismus, double vision, convergence insufficiency and vision conditions that interfere with learning. This page is for a child or adult who feels that have a vision problem that is worsening or has not been resolved. With respect to regression following vision therapy, the convergence insufficiency treatment trial group has found that 87. To diagnose convergence insufficiency, the eye doctor.