Eye Teamwork!
Do you (or someone you know) have difficulty seeing 3D images? Fall asleep easily when reading? Tilt your head/paper/book when doing near work? See double but it goes away with a blink? Lose your place when reading? Skip a line or word when reading? Have difficulty parallel parking?
If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY may be the culprit.
It’s all too easy to think that 20/20 is where vision stops and starts; and it is easy to forget about caring for our vision “up close”. In a world full of computers, smart phones and other digital media, being concerned about near vision is more important than ever!
People may assume that near vision problems can be corrected easily with glasses and frequently that is true. But if glasses don’t seem to work, the lack of teamwork when the eyes work together may be causing the problem.
Convergence insufficiency is the inability of the eyes to focus inward when doing close work, such as reading and affects approximately 13% of US children and adults. Because the eyes drift outward when reading, extra effort is needed to make them turn back in. This effort can lead to a number of frustrating symptoms that interfere with the ability to read and work comfortably.
Symptoms of convergence insufficiency when doing near work include:
- Headaches
- Eyestrain
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Inability to concentrate
- Short attention span
- Frequent loss of place
- Squinting, rubbing, closing or covering an eye
- Sleepiness during the activity
- Trouble remembering what was read
- Words appear to move, jump, swim, or float
- Problems with motion sickness and/or vertigo
Convergence insufficiency interferes with a person’s ability to see, read, learn, and work. You can even have 20/20 eyesight and still have convergence insufficiency!
Fortunately Vision Therapy coordinated by a specially trained eye care professional can greatly improve eye coordination. Once a comprehensive eye exam has been completed, a two-part vision therapy evaluation will be completed to determine the individualized vision therapy plan. Depending on the complexity of the situation, home, computerized, or in-office vision therapy may be prescribed, along with the possibility of referral to other health care professionals such as occupational, speech, or physical therapists. Ongoing visits monitor progress until goals have been met.
Dr. Sandi Farnham is the Director of the Center of Excellence for Visual Fitness at Summit Eye Associates. Please call our office at 704-865-3937 if you feel a consultation for you or your child may be helpful.
