Convergence insufficiency is a common condition that is characterized by a person's inability to maintain proper binocular eye alignment on objects as they approach from distance to near.
When looking at distance, our eyes are almost parallel, i.e., both point straight ahead. However, when looking at a near object, they come close to each other to maintain binocular fixation. Such simultaneous turning of the two eyes towards the nose is called convergence.
Efficient convergence is necessary for troublefree near-point work. Convergence insufficiency gives rise to eye-strain, headaches, watering and intermittent double vision (jumbling together of letters) following a certain period of near-point work like reading or writing.
Test - Do you have convergence insufficiency?
For this test, prepare a small rectangular card with a dark yet fine vertical line along its breadth (see picture below).
You should not be wearing glasses for this test.
The Test Procedures
(1) Hold the card in your hand, with the arm extended.
(2) Keep looking at the vertical line with both the eyes.
(3) Slowly bring the card towards your eyes; stop when the card is six inches from your eyes.
(4) Does the line appear single or double?
Evaluation of Your Test Result
A person with good convergence power sees a single line even when the card is held as close as six inches from the eyes.
If the line appears double as the card approaches the inner limit of six inches, your convergence is insufficient. This means that both your eyes are not pointing towards the line.
The greater the insufficiency of convergence, the greater will be the distance of the card from the eyes when the line starts appearing double.
Guidelines for Eye Exercises
Before we go on to the eye exercises for farsightedness, there are a few points to take note of: 1. First, read and understand the steps of each eye exercise carefully.
2. Do not use glasses or contact unless you are instructed to.
3. Do the eye exercises in in non-glaring light. Vision chart or targets should be well lit at all times.
4. If the eye exercise requires you to close the eye, do so gently.
5. Do not strain your eyes while doing the eye exercise. The result would be better if you do not strain your eyes.
6. Rest your eyes after each eye exercise, and also at the end of the whole eye exercise. To relax your eyes, perform the eye relaxation exercises.
7. As our eyes are tired after a whole-day work, early morning is the best time for eye exercises.
8. If you do not have enough time to complete all the eye exercises for farsightedness, you can do some in the morning and finish the rest in the later part of the day.
9. Learn about the different stages that you will experience when you begin to build your visual habits: The different stages as you build your visual habit.
Suggested Eye Exercises for Convergence Insufficiency
To accelerate the progress of this vision therapy, we recommend that you download and practise "The 10 powerful visual techniques" daily:
1. Focal Flexibility Exercise
2. String Exercise
3. The 'X' Card Exercise
This is an effective method to exercise the convergence and compel us to view with both the eyes together.
4. Two Coin Fusion Exercise
This eye exercise will help to improve our retinae by improving their ability to fuse two images.
Return from Convergence Insufficiency to Other Eye Exercises