WHAT IS AN EYETEAMING PROBLEM? It is not enough to have 20/20 vision and be able to see the board or a book clearly. We have two eyes and in order to see properly we have to use our two eyes together in a very precise and coordinated fashion.
Every time we look at something we must accurately aim the two eyes directly at the object of concern. Each eye sends an image to the part of the brain that is involved in the process of seeing. This part of the brain called the visual cortex then tries to combine these two images to make one "fused" image. If these images are identical the result is normal, clear, single vision and a perception of depth. If, however, the two eyes are not performing in a coordinated manner the visual cortex will receive two different images and will experience double vision.
As you can imagine double vision is not something that a child or an adult can tolerate. It becomes very difficult to function either at school, play, or work if double vision occurs.
WHAT TYPES OF EYETEAMING PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR? The two most common types are:
1. CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY Convergence insufficiency is an eyeteaming problem in which the eyes have a strong tendency to drift outward when the individual is reading or doing close work. If the eyes actually drift out the person experiences double vision. To control this tendency for the eyes to drift the individual must exert excessive effort to make the eyes turn back in.
2. CONVERGENCE EXCESS Convergence excess is an eyeteaming problem in which the eyes have a strong tendency to drift inward when the individual is reading or doing close work. If the eyes actually drift in the person experiences double vision. To control this tendency for the eyes to drift the individual must exert excessive effort to make the eyes turn back out.
HOW COMMON ARE EYETEAMING PROBLEMS? Approximately 5%-10% of children and young adults have eyeteaming problems which are significant enough to cause some of the complaints listed above.
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS AND SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH EYETEAMING PROBLEMS? People that have eyeteaming problems may complain of the following:
Eyeteaming problems which result in such symptoms actually have more impact on learning or performance at work than do vision problems which cause a lack of clarity. Unfortunately, most school vision screenings are only designed to detect vision problems which cause a lack of clarity. Very few school screenings even test for eyeteaming disorders.
HOW ARE EYETEAMING PROBLEMS TREATED? There currently are two methods which are used to treat eyeteaming problems. Sometimes eyeglasses alone can be prescribed to provide relief from the complaints associated with eyeteaming problems. These glasses are usually prescribed for just reading and the glasses must be removed for seeing the board. With very young children who would have trouble removing and putting on the glasses many times each day, bifocals can be prescribed. A bifocal allows the child to wear the glasses at all times while in school.
Often eyeglasses alone are not sufficient to completely solve eyeteaming problems. Although the glasses may provide some relief the symptoms of the eyeteaming problem persist and another form of treatment must be used. This is referred to as ORTHOPTIC THERAPY.
Orthoptic therapy is a treatment approach which involves weekly office visits. During these visits carefully selected and sequenced activities are practiced by the patient. This treatment restores normal strength, flexibility and function to the eyeteaming system and can lead to complete relief of all symptoms. The success of orthoptic therapy has been well documented in the scientific literature.
ORTHOPTIC THERAPY AT EYE CONSULTANTS OF PENNSYLVANIA Orthoptic therapy is unique at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. Here the patient's care is managed by both a pediatric ophthalmologist, Dr. Lee Klombers, and a pediatric optometrist, Dr. Mitchell Scheiman. This is one of the few practices in the country in which both specialists work together as a team.
The therapy is administered by well trained therapists under both medical and optometric supervision insuring the best possible care.
In addition to striving to achieve the highest possible success rates, another important aspect of our approach is to solve the patient's problem in as short a period of time as possible.
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