Reading and Vision Problems

Summer is the perfect time to observe your child's reading abilities and skill. With dedicated one-on-one time, you will be able to assist him with his reading and reinforce good habits. You also should pay very close attention to rule out any problems.

While there are numerous issues and/ or conditions that could pose a problem for your child's reading, convergence insufficiency is the focus of this article. It can seriously affect reading and all near point activities." In layman's terms, convergence insufficiency is a weakness of the eye muscles used to hold the eyes in a converged or near vision required position.
 

SYMPTOMS

According to Cooper, J, Cooper, R. Conditions Associated with Strabismus: Convergence Insufficiency, symptoms of convergence insufficiency include:

- covering of one eye while reading or doing close vision activities

- pulling at eye while reading or doing close vision activities

- sleepiness while/ after reading or doing close vision activities

- inability to concentrate for long periods of time

- feeling of motion sickness

- blurred vision or moving of words on the page

- inability to cross eyes and hold for a period of time
 

FREQUENCY

According to Dominick M. Maino, OD, Med, FAAO, FCOVD-A, Professor, Illinois Eye Institute/ Illinois College of Optometry, "Convergence insufficiency can occur as high as 30% within a population (college students).  The diagnosis is rare in children younger than 10 years of age. This is largely due to communication skills with physicians in younger children and an increased need for close work by children 10 years and older, according to Michael J. Bartiss, OD, MD.
 

TREATMENT

Luckily, vision therapy and home therapy are remarkable in the treatment of convergence insufficiency. Basically, the child builds his eye muscles through repeated exercises to make the eye muscles stronger and stronger. This allows the eye to hold in a converged or near vision position for longer periods of time without straining. More information about optometric vision therapy and recently published clinical trials can be found at http://www.covd.org.
 
Summer affords you an excellent opportunity to connect with your child. Should your child display any of the symptoms mentioned, contact an eye care professional and request an in-depth binocular vision exam. You and your child should be prepared by the time school starts in the fall for a wonderful year.

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