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As a result of eye doctors throughout the country failing to support what the current science suggests, convergence insufficiency remains a relatively unknown disorder. However, just because it’s unknown doesn’t mean it’s uncommon. 1 in 12 people suffer from this disorder, and all of the symptoms associated with it:

  • Headaches with reading or during close work
  • Loss of attention and concentration for reading or during close work
  • Words moving or doubling when reading or during close work
  • Eye fatigue and/or discomfort with reading or during close work
  • Homework battles: 20 minutes of homework takes hours

It’s unfortunate that these individuals are far more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD or ADD rather than convergence insufficiency. With Ritalin and Adderall shortages occurring more and more frequently, you would think that this issue would be gaining more attention, if for no other reason than as a possible underlying cause of the spike in ADHD and ADD diagnoses. No such luck.

In a study done by Dr. Davis B. Granet with 266 patients with CI (convergence insufficiency), there is “an apparent three-fold greater incidence of ADHD among patients with CI when compared with the incidence of ADHD in the general US population (1.8-3.3%) (Leslie et al., 2004). We also note a seeming three-fold greater incidence of CI in the ADHD population. This may simply represent an association and not be a causative relationship. Until further studies are performed, however, patients diagnosed with ADHD should be evaluated to identify the small subset that may have CI – a condition that responds well to treatment at home.”

We work hard to raise awareness about the vision disorders which are so often ignored, and to treat those who are suffering from such disorders. Our goal is to always be one of the “Bright Spots” which the VisionHelp Blog describes. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD, but has not had a thorough vision screening by a developmental eye doctor, you may be treating the symptoms when it is possible to treat the cause: Vision therapy has been proven to treat convergence insufficiency, and may be able to help your child focus without the use of medications.

See “The Relationship Between Convergence Insufficiency and ADHD” by Dr. David B. Granet.

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