Decoding Convergence Excess: A Visual Processing Challenge
Dr. Kalie McCartin
Developmental and Neuro-Optometrist
Owner, Visual Processing Institute
Have you ever struggled to focus on close objects, experiencing blurry vision, eye strain, or double vision? You might be dealing with convergence excess, a common visual processing issue that can significantly impact your daily life. In this blog post, I'll delve into the intricacies of convergence excess, its causes, symptoms, and effective treatment options.
Understanding Convergence Excess
Convergence excess occurs when your brain miscalculates the distance between your eyes and an object. This leads to excessive inward turning of the eyes, eye strain, and can even lead to a condition known as esotropia which is a form of strabismus (aka "lazy eye") where the eye rests inward and out of alignment at times. When your eyes are misaligned, it can disrupt your vision and cause various symptoms.
Common Causes of Convergence Excess
Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries or conditions like whiplash can disrupt the brain's ability to accurately calculate distance and coordinate eye movements.
Near Illuminated Screen Time: We have found that excessive screen time on computers, laptops, tablets, and cell phones can cause incorrect inward posturing of the eyes that will result in fatigue and strain even when looking further away.
Stress and Fatigue: High levels of stress or fatigue can strain your visual system and contribute to convergence excessively or decrease your ability to diverge your eyes into a distance. After an extended period of time, you can begin to have a general eye posture that is out of alignment and too far inward causing strain even when the stressor is gone.
Symptoms of Convergence Excess
If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, it's essential to consult with an eye care professional:
Double vision
Blurred vision
Eye strain
Headaches
Neck and shoulder pain and tightness
Difficulty reading or focusing on close objects
Sensitivity to light
The Impact of Convergence Excess
Convergence excess can make it challenging to perform everyday tasks like reading, writing, and using computers. It can also lead to social anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and difficulty concentrating.
Treatment for Convergence Excess
Vision therapy is a highly effective treatment for convergence excess. It involves a series of exercises and activities designed to retrain your brain to accurately calculate distance and coordinate your eye movements. Since the muscles that move the eyes aren't actually weak, there no need to "strengthen" them and the vision therapy will work to correct the neurolocial miscalculation.
Conclusion
Convergence excess is a treatable condition. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatment options, you can take steps to improve your vision and quality of life and you don't have to suffer with the strain and headaches forever. If you're experiencing symptoms of convergence excess, don't hesitate to schedule an appointment with a neuro or developmental optometrist.
Keywords: convergence excess, strabismus, double vision, eye strain, headaches, brain injury, vision therapy, treatment, visual processing.
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