title: An evaluation of clinical treatment of convergence insufficiency for children with reading difficulties.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study investigates two different treatment options for convergence insufficiency CI for a group of children with reading difficulties referred by educational institutes to a specialist eye clinic in Vienna.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty four subjects (aged 7-14 years) with reading difficulties were referred from an educational institute in Vienna, Austria for visual assessment. Each child was given either 8Δ base-in reading spectacles (n=51) or computerised home vision therapy (HTS) (n=51). Thirty two participants refused all treatment offered (clinical control group). A full visual assessment including reading speed and accuracy were conducted pre- and post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factorial analyses demonstrated statistically significant changes between results obtained for visits 1 and 2 for total reading time, reading error score, amplitude of accommodation and binocular accommodative facility (within subjects effects) (p<0.05). Significant differences were also demonstrated between treatment groups for total reading time, reading error score and binocular accommodative facility (between subjects effects) (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reading difficulties with no apparent intellectual or psychological foundation may be due to a binocular vision anomaly such as convergence insufficiency. Both the HTS and prismatic correction are highly effective treatment options for convergence insufficiency. Prismatic correction can be considered an effective alternative to HTS.
authors.affiliation: Vision Science Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Co, Londonderry, UK, BT52 1SA.
authors.forename: Wolfgang A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Dusek
authors.forename: Barbara K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pierscionek
authors.forename: Julie F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: McClelland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003290:Convergence, Ocular; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011932:Reading; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity