Eye condition may seem like a learning problem

September 6, 2007 (WLS) -- It's a vision disorder that could affect a child's ability to read and learn, and it's something many parents have never heard of.

According to the American Optometric Association, 60 percent of students identified as "problem learners" may actually have undetected vision problems. One of those problems could be something called convergence insufficiency.

"They said, 'Oh he does have this convergence insufficiency in his eyes,' and I thought, 'Oh that's a big name for something, what is it?" recalled mother Patty Walcott.

Walcott was surprised to learn that despite having 20/20 vision, her son, Clark, has C.I.

Convergence insufficiency is an eye movement disorder where the eyes don't turn inward when focusing on a nearby object. For example, when you read or look at something up close you may not realize it, but your eyes should naturally turn inward. People with c-i have have to work harder to do this...

"I was getting a lot of headaches," said Clark.

Headaches are one symptom, while others include difficulty concentrating, squinting or closing one eye, blurred vision, double vision and difficulty reading. For students, that can translate into a short attention span, fatigue and a tough time maintaining good grades.

Clark's parents didn't make a connection right away. They didn't think his complaints matched what you would think to be an eye condition.

Pediatric specialists at the Wheaton Eye Clinic in Naperville help diagnose and treat C.I.

"A lot of people have it and don't necessarily know they have it," said Michael Kipp, pediatric ophthalmologist at the clinic.

It's estimated that anywhere from 5-12 percent of U.S. children may have the condition. But there may be many more that go undiagnosed because it can only be found with special eye-focusing tests. C.I. usually isn't caught with standard eye chart tests.

Nadene Holmes, another mother, said her daughter Kaylan was initially misdiagnosed.

"They said there was nothing wrong with her eyes and don't worry about it, and we'll see her back in three to four years," Holmes said.

But Kaylan was still getting headaches. A second opinion revealed the muscle deficiency. The good news is that C.I., in most cases, can be corrected with eye-focusing exercises.

"The exercises we do are very, very simple," said Susan Stepleton, O.D., pediatric optometrist. "Just taking the time to do them, most kids get better in two to three months."

The specialists say it's like going to the gym and working your muscles to get them in better tone.

After a couple of months of hard work, the exercises seem to be paying off for Clark. His parents said they saw an improvement in his ability to read for longer periods and that his grades rebounded. They also said his headaches lessened as well.

C.I. is most often detected in adolescence, but adults can have it too. Doctors stress that C.I. may contribute to reading difficulties, but in most cases, is not the sole cause.

If you're concerned about your child's eyesight, be sure to ask that their eye screening include a check for muscle imbalance.

Wheaton Eye Clinic
604 Raymond Dr.
Naperville, Il
60563
630-717-5858
wheatoneye.com

Also:

Wheaton Eye Clinic
2015 N. Main St.
Wheaton, Il.
60187
630-668-8250

Mayo Clinic
mayoclinic.com/health/convergence-insufficiency

AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION
aoa.org

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