Convergence insufficiency is a binocular disorder, which is defined as a vision problem which occurs when attempting to see or read something with both eyes. Convergence insufficiency may occur with objects and text at close distance or far away, such as reading a book or looking at a whiteboard. A person with this disorder will attempt to focus on something at near or far distance and his eyes will involuntarily drift outward.
The symptoms of convergence insufficiency resemble those of both vision problems and other learning disorders such as ADHD. While the recognition of convergence insufficiency is relatively modern, these symptoms can be considered as serious and debilitating as those of other learning disorders. A person with convergence insufficiency may experience continual eyestrain during and after focusing on text. This continual strain can result in headaches, and blurred or double vision. Vision problems then often lead to an inability to concentrate and a short attention span as the reader constantly loses her place and grows increasingly frustrated. At graduated levels, someone with convergence insufficiency may experience motion sickness or vertigo as words appear to float, jump or swim. If this condition is not treated, the person may eventually obtain an outward eye turn that comes and goes involuntarily.
In school, convergence insufficiency effects almost every aspect of classroom and home study. Students are required to watch the board for notes, write down their own notes and read text to understand class materials. As a student attempts to follow along with her classmates, she may experience any or all symptoms. Teachers and parents who are ignorant of convergence insufficiency may assume the student is falling behind, acting out or choosing to be indifferent about the studies. Furthermore, convergence insufficiency has gone undetected in vision studies and has even been found in students which passed an eye exam with 20/20 vision results.
Rather than taking a traditional vision test, a person who shows signs of convergence insufficiency should take a convergence, or eye teaming, and accommodation, or focusing, test. Consult your eye doctor and ask for binocular vision testing to undergo a check. Describe the symptoms experienced to receive testing and treatment. Supervised vision therapy has been known to produce excellent results when used at the early onset of symptoms. The issue is that many people do not understand or recognize convergence insufficiency, including regular eye doctors.