Apples for Health- Eye disorder may affect school work

Eye disorder may affect school work

HOUSTON, April 10 (UPI) -- An eye muscle coordination disorder -- convergence insufficiency -- if left untreated, often affects school performance of students, a U.S. eye expert says.

The disorder is found in some 5 percent to 20 percent of the population, depending on the definition used and the age group studied, Dr. Janice Wensveen of the University of Houston College of Optometry said.

"As the name implies, it's somebody who can't cross their eyes, and you might think that's a weird thing to have to be able to do," Wensveen says in a statement. "But, if you just consider the geometry of looking up close, your two eyes do have to turn in so that they're both pointing at the thing that you want to see."

Symptoms of convergence insufficiency include loss of place and concentration while reading, reading slowly, eyestrain, headaches, blurry vision and double vision.

For those with the disorder, reading can become very frustrating.

"Studies would suggest there is a possible relationship between convergence insufficiency and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, in that about 10 percent of patients with convergence insufficiency had a history of ADHD at initial presentation or in follow-up exams," Dr. Nick Holdeman, executive director of the University Eye Institute at the University of Houston said.

"While the research does not support a direct relationship between the two diagnoses, it is recommended that evaluation of convergence insufficiency should be undertaken in children diagnosed with ADHD."