Treatment of symptomatic convergence insufficiency with home-based computerized vergence system therapy in children.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Everett and Hurite Ophthalmic Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Pamela A
PA
Huston
Everett and Hurite Ophthalmic Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: idocdlh@verizon.net.
Darren L
DL
Hoover
D000293:Adolescent; D001248:Asthenopia / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003290:Convergence, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D004172:Diplopia / Q000503:physiopathology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009988:Orthoptics / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology