Vision Therapy for Convergence Insufficiency/Eye Teaming in Austin & San Antonio, TX
Convergence is the ability to accurately coordinate the eyes to focus on an object in space. It is part of the process involved in seeing a single, three-dimensional image. Equally as important is the ability of both eyes to team together and give simultaneous feedback to the brain. Convergence and eye teaming are closely related, and problems with each often occur simultaneously.
More than 20 million people in the U.S. suffer from convergence insufficiency, noticeable by the inability to coordinate the eyes when performing work close to the face. Difficulty arises from a failure to provide relevant or correct information to the brain which can manifest as inefficiency and inaccuracies in reading and computer work.
Vision therapy exercises for convergence insufficiency and eye teaming emphasize reteaching the eyes to coordinate with one another to realign feedback sent to the brain. As teamwork improves from eye to eye, therapists can also work on convergence insufficient treatment methods that help improve three-dimensional vision and recover depth perception and clear vision.
Lupe’s Story
Mr. Rapp’s StoryHow to Identify Convergence Insufficiency & Eye Teaming Problems
Monitoring reactions when performing close work is one of the most efficient ways to recognize the symptoms of convergence insufficiency and eye teaming problems, such as:
- Straining of the eyes
- Blurry or double vision
- Concentration problems
- Headache
- Squinting
- Motion sickness or vertigo
- Fatigue with reading or computer work
Most symptoms are the result of a strain on the muscles of the face and eyes, but may also affect balance centers in the brain.
Test your or your child’s ability to perform close work by undertaking such tasks as:
- Working at a computer
- Reading
- Writing at a desk
- Playing video games on a handheld device
- Making crafts
The inability to concentrate or remember the goals of the current task may also be signs of convergence insufficiency. An eye exam at the Optometry Center for Vision Therapy (OCVT) will help determine if you or your child is coping with convergence insufficiency or eye teaming problems and how treatment with vision therapy exercises can begin to correct it.
Convergence Insufficiency Treatment for Adults and Children with Eye Teaming Problems
The best time to seek treatment for convergence insufficiency and eye treatment problems with vision therapy is during childhood. The brain is more efficient at making a permanent change for the better as it develops throughout a child’s life.
However, convergence insufficiency treatment for adults is effective and often needed. Over time with increased computer and near work visual demands become more rigorous as adults and if the eye muscle system is already compensating it gets harder to with these increased demands. As adults experience need for reading glasses and change in reading prescriptions this can make it harder for their convergence system to adjust. Convergence insufficiency problems in adults is also common with neurological insult like concussion, stroke or Parkinson’s Disease to name a few. Patients usually show signs of and seek treatment for eye teaming problems as teenagers or in early adulthood, and research into treatment has yielded the discovery of effective convergence insufficiency therapy methods.
Does Vision Therapy Treatment for Convergence Insufficiency Work?
Yes – we have had remarkable results treating patients for these conditions.
A developmental optometrist and therapist will tailor an exercise plan to the severity of the present eye teaming and convergence problems. They will then guide you through exercise sessions and monitor your progress to determine the next steps.
Convergence insufficiency treatment exercises may include:
- Catching exercises
- Depth perception practice
- Add use of specialized equipment and tools such as prisms and lenses
- Add training with computerized technology to stimulate the brain and eye muscles of each eye simultaneously
- Physical distance judgment activities
- Posture improvement
Results rely heavily on your active participation and willingness to continue working on your vision in the clinic and at home. As you become more accustomed to converging images and how they are supposed to send information to your brain, exercises will become easier to perform on your own time and become more automatic
How Do I Schedule an Appointment for Convergence Insufficiency Treatment?
Come into the location nearest you or call during our office hours to talk with us directly, or feel free to send us an email with your name, contact information, and a short message about your vision therapy concerns.
You can also reach us anytime by filling out the contact form on our Contact Us page. We encourage you to schedule a complimentary consultation at OCVT at the first sign of convergence insufficiency or eye teaming problems in infants and toddlers, whether a visual condition is apparent or not. Also, please do not hesitate to contact us if you cope with adult convergence insufficiency.
We’re waiting at your nearest location to help you begin your treatment as soon as possible! Get a complimentary consultation today and start on the road to better vision.
