Convergence Insufficiency

Teen girl rubbing eyes

Convergence insufficiency is a relatively common eye condition that is typically diagnosed in childhood. A study of two large optometry clinics found that 17.6% of children who received vision exams had convergence insufficiency. As this disorder may cause difficulty focusing on written pages, some children with convergence insufficiency are actually diagnosed with learning disability rather than a vision problem. This highlights the necessity of receiving a comprehensive eye exam that tests for this vision problem.

What Is Convergence Insufficiency?

Convergence insufficiency is an eye disorder in which the eyes do not work together properly when focusing on a nearby object. In general, looking at a close object causes the eyes to turn inward, allowing them to focus. If the eyes drift outward, this prevents accurate focusing and is labeled convergence insufficiency.

Symptoms of convergence insufficiency typically manifest when reading, writing, or doing other work that requires focusing on a nearby object. Common symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Double vision
  • Eyestrain
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty reading. Many patients report that the words seem to swim on the page or blur.
  • Squinting or closing one eye when doing close-up work.

Diagnosis of Convergence Insufficiency

Unfortunately, convergence insufficiency is commonly missed on basic eye exams such as those performed as screening tools at school. A child may seem to have 20/20 vision but still suffer from convergence insufficiency and its associated symptoms.

An optometrist can diagnose convergence insufficiency during a comprehensive vision exam. First, the eye doctor will take a history of signs and symptoms associated with this disorder. Next, the optometrist will conduct a thorough vision exam to detect nearsightedness or other vision problems. Finally, the eye doctor will test the ability of the eyes to focus on nearby objects. This may involve asking the patient to hold the eyes together to focus on a small object or to read through a prism.

Treatment Options

Unlike many other eye problems, convergence insufficiency is not easily treated by eyeglasses (although reading glasses with built-in prisms may be prescribed). Instead, vision therapy exercises teach the eyes how to converge to focus accurately on an object. Your eye doctor can recommend exercises to perform at home or in the office. This may include focusing on a small letter as you move it toward the bridge of your nose, improving the ability of the eyes to turn inward to focus.

Ask about our BOGO Deal!

Qualifying contact lens purchases are eligible for FREE polycarbonate single vision lenses

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Pittsburg

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Girard

Monday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Fort Scott

Monday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

1:00 pm-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Locations

Find us on the map

  • "We see Dr.Kannar & Dr.Jacquinot often, myself, my husband and my son love them both and their staff. They are all great people! I highly recommend them!"
    Heather P.
  • "Dr Painter see both my husband and myself she is very pleasant and takes very good care of us she always take time to explain and makes sure our needs our taken care of."
    Brenda B.
  • "I went to the office in Girard and saw Dr Painter. The whole office is Wonderful! Very friendly and caring. My glasses are perfect! Won't go anywhere else!"
    Linda M.
  • "Pittsburg is lucky to have you Dr. Kannarr (as am I ) Thanks for everything you do for your patients!"
    Becky O.

Featured Articles

Read up on Informative Topics

  • Stress and Vision

    Did you know that your eyes are an extension of your brain? There are six muscles connected to each eye, and they receive signals from the brain. These signals direct the eyes movements and, thus, control their ability to focus. When you are stressed, your brain goes through a number of changes and signals ...

    Read More
  • Pain Management

    We take a lot of aspects of our vision for granted. We expect to see nearby and faraway objects clearly, even if we require our eye care provider to prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to do so. A huge degree of the information we take in about our world and our surroundings takes place visually, ...

    Read More
  • Nutrition for Eye Health

    Eating right is essential for keeping your body healthy. This is as true for your eyes as it is for your heart. A diet that is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and is low in saturated fat, can reduce your risk of heart disease. This will also keep your arteries healthy, so they can ...

    Read More
  • Lifestyle Practices for Eye Health

    Protecting your eyesight is an important part of staying healthy overall. Maintaining sound eye health will also help you preserve your quality of life as you age. To keep your eyes as healthy as possible, follow these simple lifestyle practices. Get regular eye exams. Some eye problems — including ...

    Read More
  • Glare and Halos

    Glare and halos are both eye symptoms that some people experience around bright lights. Halos show up as bright circles around a light source. Glare is light that interferes with your vision, making it difficult to see or sometimes making your eyes water. These symptoms can show up at any time of the ...

    Read More
  • UV Radiation and Your Eyes

    Optometry warnings about the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation on our eyes have not yet reached the degree of public awareness of that of skin damage. Yet, the sun can be just as damaging upon our eyes with unprotected exposure. Short-term exposure to very bright sunlight can result in a type ...

    Read More
  • Lazy Eye

    Lazy eye, also referred to as amblyopia, is a condition that develops in infancy or early childhood, and it typically starts when the focus in one eye is more enhanced than the other. The eye with less focus might be impaired due to a significant amount of farsightedness or astigmatism, or something ...

    Read More
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology

    Ophthalmology addresses the physiology, anatomy and diseases of the eyes. Pediatric ophthalmology focuses on the eyes of children. Pediatric ophthalmologists examine children’s eyes to see if they need corrective lenses or other treatments to improve their vision. Training for Pediatric Ophthalmologists Pediatric ...

    Read More
  • September Newsletter: Can Contact Lenses Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays?

    Could your contact lenses help you avoid eye disease? ...

    Read More
  • September Newsletter: How Your Environment Affects Your Eyewear Choice

    Are you wearing the best eyewear for changing environments? ...

    Read More

Newsletter Sign Up