Convergence insufficiency what every physician should know 3.0

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A Patient Health Concern

This presentation was originated by Dr. Dan L. Fortenbacher in January 2011 as part of an ongoing educational series for Family Physicians regarding one of the most important, yet often misunderstood and overlooked vision problems in patient health care today...

Convergence Insufficiency

Convergence Insufficiency A Patient Health Concern

Dan L. Fortenbacher, O.D., FCOVD

Convergence Insufficiency

A Patient Quality of Life Concern

Why?

Vision conditions that catch the public eye

Central vision based› Refractive conditions› Cataracts › Macular Degeneration› Amblyopia

Peripheral vision based› Glaucoma› Visual Field Loss after stroke (CVA)

Anterior segment› Acute Conjunctivitis › Dry Eyes› Allergies

Binocular Vision

Strabismus

Why it is important for Family Physicians to know about CI?

A disease that affects over 21 million in the United States

Massive research effort over 10 years by the CITT Group

Latest study (2008) NEI funded $6.1 M. multicenter including: The Mayo Clinic, Bascom Palmer and 6 Colleges of Optometry around the US. 

Can cause behaviors that appear to be ADD/ADHD, reading and learning problems

There is a cure!

Convergence Insufficiency A Patient Health Concern

What are the key points to know about CI?

What is convergence insufficiency (CI)?› Clinical presentation

What to look for in the patient exam?› Symptom profile› Easy screening test

What you can do to help

What is Convergence Insufficiency (CI) ?

Wikipedia: Convergence insufficiency is a sensory and neuromuscular anomaly of the binocular vision system, characterized by an inability of the eyes to approach each other, or sustain convergence

Convergence insufficiency is a binocular vision problem…but it is NOT strabismus

Why Convergence Insufficiency?

Consider this -Even though CI…

Affects people of all ages Impact on lives can be significant It has had extensive research The correct treatment is efficacious and

permanent

Convergence Insufficiency is routinely…

Missed in vision screenings

Why is CI often missed in routine vision screenings

CI patients routinely have 20/20

Children with CI may not complain about their eyes to their parents or tell the family physician

Most CI patients have “quality of life” symptoms which are over looked in routine screenings

CI Symptoms

Avoids near centered visual tasks like reading

Eyes hurt or strain with sustained reading Headaches associated with sustained

reading Words have illusory movement or overlap

(double) when reading

CI symptoms masquerade as…

A patient who is a slow reader A patient who is thought to have attention

deficit disorder A patient who is not trying or is just “lazy”

when it comes to school work

CI Behavioral symptoms

Attention deficit for reading Frustration with emotional overload Reduced self esteem Avoidance of academic work Anxiety Depression Reduced social and physical involvement

How would you feel…

…if your reading did this?

How common is CI in children?

What is the chance that a school-age child will have convergence insufficiency?

A. <1% B. 2-4% C. 5-13% D. 20-25%

How common is CI in children?

What is the chance that a school-age child will have convergence insufficiency?

A. <1% B. 2-4% C. 5-13% D. 20-25%

Epidemiology Study - ChildrenScheiman M, et al. JAOA April 1996

1:12 children will have CI

How can you recognize the patient with CI?

Ask a few basic questions

Run a basic, yet important screening test

For parents of school age children…ask a few questions and listen

Does your child have trouble staying on task during a reading activity?

Do they have headaches with reading?

Turn to the child and ask, “Do you ever see words do this?”

For adults…ask a few questions and listen

Do you ever see words overlap when reading? (Double vision demo)

Do you have trouble staying on task during a reading activity?

Do you experience headaches or eye fatigue/strain with reading?

What to test?Near Point of Convergence (NPC)

The (NPC) is measured by bringing the test target to the nose and observing when the patient sees double, or one eye deviates out.

NPC ( receded 5cm or recovery greater than 7cm)

How to test NPC

Penlight Red/Green- Near Point of Convergence Test (PLRG NPC)

WHERE IS THE RESEARCH?

ArchOphthalmol. 2008;126(10):1336-1349 › Scheiman, et al. Randomized Clinical Trial of

Treatments for Symptomatic Convergence Insufficiency in Children

› $6.1million NEI funded› Multi-center study

Mayo Clinic, Bascom Palmer, University of California, OSU, SUNY, NOVA, PCO, UAB, SCCO,

› Masked, Prospective, Placebo Controlled

Treatment methods for CI

Pencil push-up “eye exercises” Home-based activities on computer

programs Office-based professionally guided vision

therapy with home reinforcement

CITTS Results

› Home-Based Pencil Push-ups (HBPP) no better than placebo therapy. Neither (HBPP) or placebo effective in reducing signs/symptoms of CI

› Pencil push-ups and home-based computer vision therapy (HBCVAT+) no better than placebo therapy

› Office-based vision therapy(OBVT) IS effective in treating CI in children

Modalities of TreatmentResults

Office-based, doctor supervised Optometric Vision Therapy Effective!

What can you do?

Screen Recognize Inform

Screen

PLRG NPC

Symptom Checklist

Recognize

Recognize the symptoms› Avoids near centered visual tasks like reading› Eyes hurt or strain with sustained reading › Headaches associated with sustained reading› Words have illusory movement or overlap (double) when reading

Diagnose receded NPC

Inform

Provide CI literature Advise further diagnostic evaluation Prescribe treatment

What is Vision Therapy?

Optometric Vision Therapy IS NOT eye exercises!!Vision Therapy is rehabilitation treatment of the visual brain with proven applications in neuroscience

Office-based vision therapy utilizes principles of neuroscience research…

1. Visual awareness

2. Feedback

3. Loading -Action, movement and relevance

Office-based optometric vision therapy in action!

Contact Information for Dr. Fortenbacher wow@wowvision.net www.wowvision.com www.visionhelp.com Facebook: Wow Vision Therapy www.sovoto.com 2909 Division Street, Saint Joseph, MI 49085

269-983-3309 http://visionhelp.wordpress.com/author/dfortenbacher

THANK YOU!

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