{"id":16713,"date":"2021-08-08T08:54:41","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T08:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=16713"},"modified":"2021-08-08T08:54:41","modified_gmt":"2021-08-08T08:54:41","slug":"convergence-insufficiency-an-eye-focusing-and-aiming-problem","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/convergence-insufficiency-2\/convergence-insufficiency-an-eye-focusing-and-aiming-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Convergence Insufficiency: An Eye Focusing and Aiming Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know? Each eye has six muscles to control eye movement and focusing.<\/b><\/h2>\n

It is comfortable and easy to accomplish visual tasks at any distance and in any direction of gaze when these eye muscles are working in perfect harmony.<\/p>\n

The most important eye muscles control the convergence (aiming) and focusing of the eyes.<\/p>\n

But what happens when the eye muscles are not working as a team?\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

What is convergence?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Convergence is the ability for the eyes to aim and point inward, such as needed for reading, computer use or doing your favorite craft.<\/p>\n

We need this visual skill every time we do homework, study for an exam or use a computer at the office. The eyes should be in essentially parallel alignment when looking straight ahead and far away; as the object moves closer, the eyes must bend inward toward each other.<\/p>\n

When both eyes aren\u2019t able to work together when looking at anything close up, <\/b>convergence insufficiency<\/i><\/b><\/a> (CI) occurs.<\/b><\/p>\n

CI is a binocular vision condition that affects near vision and eye muscle coordination. It makes it difficult to focus on near tasks like reading and school work. In adults, it can harm performance in the workplace.<\/p>\n

What causes CI?<\/b><\/p>\n

The #1 cause of convergence insufficiency is an eye muscle weakness known as exophoria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This condition is caused when the eyes have a tendency to drift outward, meaning the eyes need to work harder to focus on a book or a computer screen.<\/p>\n

Difficulties with convergence eventually results in the eyes becoming tired, leading to loss of attention, eye strain, headaches, even migraines.<\/b><\/p>\n

Eye focusing<\/b><\/h2>\n

In order to keep any image clear, the eye must be able to focus clearly, just like a camera. Eye focusing is also known as accommodation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When we are looking at something far away, our eyes focus on that object and then to look at something closer the focusing needs to change to maintain clarity.<\/p>\n

The convergence and focusing systems work together and are linked in the brain so that when we shift our vision from far to close, they reinforce each other and keep what we are looking at single and clear.<\/p>\n

However, when these two visual skills do not work together, the most common diagnosis made is Convergence Insufficiency (CI).<\/p>\n

Contact an eye doctor near you<\/a>, if you notice any signs below in your child.<\/b><\/p>\n

SEE RELATED:<\/strong> Do I Have Convergence Insufficiency?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t

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