{"id":16719,"date":"2021-08-08T09:32:47","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T09:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=16719"},"modified":"2021-08-08T09:32:47","modified_gmt":"2021-08-08T09:32:47","slug":"vision-therapy-for-convergence-excess","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/convergence-insufficiency-2\/vision-therapy-for-convergence-excess\/","title":{"rendered":"Vision Therapy for Convergence Excess"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the American Optometric Association, over 7% of children have convergence excess, which can undermine a child\u2019s ability to learn.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Extraocular muscles are a group of six muscles that surround the eyes. These muscles control how the eyes move in unison in all directions.<\/p>\n

The eye muscles make it possible to keep the eyes in perfect synchrony at all distances and ranges of vision throughout the day.<\/p>\n

To do close activities like reading, we require our eyes to converge, or glance inwards towards the nose. Double vision and eye strain might result from the eyes’ inability to converge.<\/p>\n

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

Convergence excess is an eye condition where the eye muscles are imbalanced, causing them to not operate together properly\u2014 instead, one eye aims too close or in front of the other eye.<\/b><\/p>\n

This means that the eye muscle coordination system must work harder to maintain alignment.\u00a0 Extraocular muscles can become so overworked that they can no longer support single, binocular vision.<\/p>\n

Convergence excess results in diplopia (double vision), fatigue, headaches or migraines.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In people with convergence excess, the brain tries to suppress double vision by \u2018turning off\u2019 the vision from one eye.<\/p>\n

Untreated convergence excess can result in a lazy eye<\/a> or an eye turn known as esotropia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

Esotropia, a form of convergence excess, is a form of eye turn, where one eye turns too far inward compared to the other eye.<\/p>\n

Copying from the chalkboard can be difficult for children with convergence excess. Furthermore, when children move a book closer or farther away to improve their vision, they are actually attempting to ease their convergence excess difficulties.<\/p>\n

When these children get close enough to the page, they may utilize only their stronger eye to avoid the confusion and strain of having to use both eyes at the same time.<\/p>\n

This excess of convergence is frequently linked to accommodative dysfunction<\/a>. The eyes are directed closer in than desired in an attempt to compensate for lower focusing strength, creating eye fatigue.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve noticed your child moving closer to a page when reading, contact an eye doctor near you<\/a> to evaluate their vision.<\/b><\/p>\n

SEE RELATED:<\/strong> Understanding Convergence Insufficiency<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t

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