Treatment of symptomatic convergence insufficiency with home-based computerized vergence system therapy in children.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the efficacy of a home-based computer orthoptic program for symptomatic convergence insufficiency (CI) in children.

METHODS:

The medical records of participants aged 5 to <18 years who were diagnosed with symptomatic CI and were treated with the Computerized Vergence System (CVS) program were retrospectively reviewed. All participants were prescribed 9 or 15 minutes of daily convergence exercises with the CVS program, 5 days per week, for the initial 6 weeks. Near point of convergence (NPC) and near convergence amplitude (NCA) were measured at baseline, 6 week, and final examinations. The presence or absence of diplopia and asthenopia with reading were recorded at baseline and final examinations.

RESULTS:

A total of 186 participants were included. At diagnosis, 72 participants (39%) reported diplopia and 182 (98%), reported asthenopia. At final examination, 172 participants (92%) were asymptomatic. Twelve participants (6%) subsequently received other treatment modalities. Mean NPC at baseline (5.9 cm) improved after 6 weeks of CVS therapy (3.3 cm) and at final examination (2.9 cm; P < 0.0005). Mean NCA at baseline (20.3(Δ)) improved after 6 weeks of CVS therapy (37.0(Δ)) and at the final examination (38.0(Δ); P < 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS:

In this study, home-based CVS therapy reduced symptoms related to CI and improved the NPC and NCA of most children aged 5 to <18 years with symptomatic CI.

• Authors: Pamela A Huston, Darren L Hoover
• Journal: Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (J AAPOS) Vol. 19 Issue 5 Pg. 417-21 (Oct 2015) ISSN: 1528-3933 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26486022 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Asthenopia (physiopathology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Convergence, Ocular (physiology)
• Diplopia (physiopathology)
• Exercise Therapy
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Ocular Motility Disorders (physiopathology, therapy)
• Orthoptics (methods)
• Retrospective Studies
• Vision, Binocular (physiology)