Convergence Insufficiency Help

• Eyestrain

• Headaches

• Tired, sore eyes

• Difficulty concentrating on reading and close tasks (i.e. reading, computer work, desk work, playing video games, doing crafts, etc.)

• Sleepiness

• Poor sports performance

• Frequent loss of place or mistakenly re-reading the same line of text

• Avoidance of near work or reading

• Dizziness or motion sickness

• Loss of comprehension after short periods of reading or performing close activities

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People with CI often experience:

• Double vision when reading, especially for long periods of time

• Eyes feel tired, hurt, sore, or uncomfortable

• A “pulling” feeling around eyes

• Words move, jump, swim, or appear to float on the page

• Words appear to come in and out of focus

• Words blur on page, especially after long periods of reading or if reading when tired

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Signs of CI at school:

• Performs below potential

• Trouble staying focused on homework

• Moves head back and forth while reading (instead of moving eyes)

• Poor concentration

• Misaligns letters or numbers

• Avoidance of near work such as reading

• Unusual posture

• Difficulty tracking moving objects

• Whispers to self when reading

• Difficulty copying from the board

• Poor eye hand coordination

• Loses place when reading or uses finger to keep place

• Squinting, eye rubbing, or excessive blinking while reading

• Homework takes hours when it shouldn’t

• Short attention span, quickly bored, day dreams, doesn’t pay attention

• Becomes easily distracted

• Low comprehension of written material

• Can read but chooses not to

• Light sensitivity after reading

• Difficulty in catching a ball

• Child is often labeled as “unmotivated”, “distractible” or “lazy”

• Turning or tilting of head when reading

• Fatigues easily after reading;

• Poor attention skills/ ADD or ADHD

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Tracking issues make reading and comprehension much more difficult, as shown in this example:

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