4 Important Things to Know About Convergence Insufficiency

The eye muscles may be small and somewhat weak, but together they perform the extremely complex and intricate tasks of focusing, scanning and tracking objects, and maintaining a steady image on the retina. Precise coordination between the eyes is essential for proper eye function, but sometimes a visual processing problem can interfere.

What Exactly is Convergence Insufficiency?

One such visual processing problem is known as convergence insufficiency (CI). This common binocular vision disorder impacts the eye muscles’ ability to move and coordinate properly, making it difficult for people with the condition to rapidly change focus between near and far distances. CI also makes it hard for the eyes to focus on things close up, and as a result, reading, writing, and other up-close activities become difficult and frustrating. Often, CI can cause the words to appear like they’re swimming on the page, making reading a slow and painful process; in some cases, so much so that some people eventually try to avoid reading altogether.

What Causes CI?

While the exact cause of CI is not known, it can come about as a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), infection, neurodegenerative disease or the use of certain medications. Symptoms of convergence insufficiency are most often seen in children and teens after extensive periods of up-close work.

What Symptoms Should I Look For?

Performance- and vision-related symptoms to be aware of that could indicate CI include:

Feeling tired when reading
Headaches and dizziness
Eye strain or discomfort
Trouble concentrating
Blurred or double vision
Losing your place easily
Having to read things more than once
Difficulty remembering what was read
Motion sickness

How Is Convergence Insufficiency Related to ADHD?

Since convergence insufficiency shares many of the same symptoms as ADHD, it is often misdiagnosed as such. Children and adults alike with CI often have problems concentrating, tend to be easily distracted, and frequently struggle with prioritizing, staying organized and controlling their tempers. This can lead to performances issues at school or at work. If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed medication for it but haven’t seen any progress, you could have a visual processing problem.

Schedule a Neurovisual Examination

At the Neuro Visual Center of New York, we specialize in the use of visual orthotic devices to treat CI and other binocular vision disorders that are sometimes mistaken for ADHD. To find out more about our treatment methods and the special aligning prismatic lenses we use, contact us today at (516) 224-4888.

Testimonials

Prior to being treated by Dr. Cheryl, I constantly felt off balance. I had suffered from frequent migraines since I was 12 years old. I often suffered from neck/ back pain, and always felt like I was straining my neck and/or tilting my head to focus on the computer. My family had always noticed that I walked a bit sideways as well, but they attributed that to me being "clumsy". I had awful anxiety about walking down flights of stairs or through the mall, as I always had this irrational fear of falling. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression, as I would tend to avoid social situations where I felt uncomfortable or not in control. At my annual eye exam, Dr. Cheryl asked how my migraines had been. I casually mentioned that I was having dizzy spells and felt off balance. As Dr. Cheryl went through a series of questions, it seemed like she was reading off a script of my symptoms. She started to explain binocular vision dysfunction and asked if I would consider a neuro visual test that may be able to determine if I was a candidate for the type of treatment she was involved in. I was skeptical, but desperate. The tests administered by Dr. Cheryl produced black and white, concrete results. I was blown away by how clear it was that this "visual vertigo" I was experiencing was not only completely legitimate, but treatable. My skepticism disappeared immediately when Dr. Cheryl had me wear a trial pair of glasses with prisms in them. I felt taller, grounded, and completely in control. My glasses have made a tremendous difference in my everyday life. I feel balanced and aware of my surroundings. I no longer catch myself tilting my head while reading through pages of documents on my computer, or tilting my head to get a better view of the TV. It is more than a change in my prescription or a "clearer view," it is an entire perspective change. I have not had a single migraine in 6 months - I am still in shock when I say those words. My dizzy spells have subsided, as well. When I am not wearing my glasses, which is rare, I can immediately feel the difference in my equilibrium. I would never have guessed that all of these symptoms and subsequent issues, were vision related. Dr. Cheryl was 100% supportive and genuinely concerned about my comfort and progress throughout this whole journey. I would, without hesitation, recommend her to anyone that suffers from these symptoms. She is a true life saver and is passionate about investing her time and energy into this growing field.

A. S.