Convergence insufficiency is an eye-teaming problem in which the eyes have a strong tendency to drift outward when the individual is reading or doing close work. If the eyes actually drift out, the person experiences double vision. To prevent double vision from occurring, the individual must exert excessive effort to make the eyes turn back in. This additional effort can lead to a number of annoying symptoms that can interfere with the ability to read and work comfortably at near. Convergence insufficiency affects approximately 5 out of every 100 children and adults.

What are the symptoms associated with convergence insufficiency?

People who have convergence insufficiency may complain of the following when reading :

• eyestrain and headaches
• inability to concentrate
• short attention span
• frequent loss of place
• rubbing or closing an eye
• blur
• sleepiness
• trouble remembering what was read
• words move, jump, swim or appear to float on the page
• pulling sensation around the eyes
• the need to re-read the same line of words

What is the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial?

The Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) was developed to determine whether Pencil Push-Ups or Office-Based Vision Therapy/Orthoptics are effective treatments for convergence insufficiency and if so, which of the two is the better treatment. To be absolutely certain that one or both of these treatments are effective, there is a control group which does not receive either of these two treatments. Instead, they receive a harmless therapy not designed to treat convergence insufficiency.

The study is being conducted at several institutions across the United States and is funded by the National Eye Institute. The National Eye Institute is a part of the National Institutes of Health, the branch of the federal government that funds medical research. About 100 patients will be entered into the study and cared for by participating eye doctors.

What do I need to do to participate in the CITT?

If you would like further information or are interested in participating in this study please contact:Marjean Taylor Kulp, O.D., M.S.  The Ohio State University,   College of Optometry, 320 West Tenth Ave.  Phone:  614-688-3336; e-mail; kulp.6@osu.edu