Convergence insufficiency (eyes don't team up up close)

Overview

To read, both eyes need to turn inward together. In convergence insufficiency, they drift apart, which causes strain.

Regular eye charts at school often miss it because distance vision is fine.

Symptoms

Common signs:

• Eye strain or double vision when reading
• Headache from screens or reading

Less common

• Headaches with reading
• Losing place on the page
• Double vision up close

Look up a symptom: Blurry vision

When to get medical care

Causes

Eye teaming.

Does it spread or run in families?

• It isn't contagious. You can't catch it from someone else.

Who is more likely to get it

• Kids

Diagnosis

An eye exam.

Treatment

Exercises.

Self-care

• Do prescribed eye exercises
• Take reading breaks every 20 minutes
• Use good lighting
• Do the exercises your eye doctor gives you

Prevention

To lower your risk or prevent problems:

• Regular eye exams

Which doctor treats this

• Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
• They may send you to an ophthalmologist (eye doctor and surgeon) or an optometrist.

Children, pregnancy, and older adults

• Children: May lose their place or avoid reading.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
• Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
• Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
• Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.

Outlook

Treatable.

Office-based vision therapy helps most children.

Getting ready for your visit

Bring a list of your symptoms and medicines.

Questions to ask

• Would office-based vision therapy help?

Research studies

Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Convergence insufficiency (eyes don't team up up close)