Convergence Insufficiency

Convergence Insufficiency

Convergence Insufficiency (CI) is characterized by a decreased ability to converge the eyes and maintain clear and single vision at reading and close distances. Patients often complain of eye strain when reading, closing one eye when reading, or blurred vision after short periods of near work. If you use a computer or gadgets for long amounts of time, you may also be at greater risk for CI. Other visually demanding jobs may also raise your risk.

Experts are not yet sure what causes CI. There may be problems in the complex series of actions that the brain and eyes perform. Genes may be partly responsible for CI. In some cases, a health condition can help lead to CI. These include:

• Head injury and concussion
• Graves’ disease
• Myasthenia gravis
• Parkinson disease
• Alzheimer disease

Symptoms

• Headache
• Double vision
• Eye fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Sleepiness when reading
• Needing to re-read things a few times
• Trouble concentrating on what you are reading
• Often losing your place when reading
• Words seem to move, jump, or float on the page
• Motion sickness or vertigo

Treatment

Eye care providers often prescribe certain eye exercises to treat CI. These exercises may be done at home or at the office. Some of these exercises might include looking through prisms.

Computer programs are available that can increase convergence ability and measure improvement over time. Most of the time, symptoms go away with regular practice over a fairly short period of time.