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Convergence Insufficiency & Upper Respiratory Symptoms

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a common eye condition among children that is characterized by their inability to focus clearly on objects that are close to their eyes. Patients suffering from convergence insufficiency are unable to turn their eyes inward toward each other. While there is no direct association between convergence insufficiency and upper respiratory systems, observational research has shown higher incidences of upper respiratory system infections in CI patients.

  1. Symptoms of Convergence Insufficiency

    • Convergence insufficiency is hard to detect in adults as they have trained themselves to overcome the limitations of the condition. Its symptoms are much more visible in children in the form of eyestrain, blurred or double vision, headaches, concentration issues, short attention span, sleepiness during focusing activities, moving or jumping words, and motion sickness or vertigo. Some children might also be more prone to respiratory tract infections such as cold, runny nose, sneezing and breathing allergies.

    Diagnosis of Convergence Insufficiency

    • Diagnosis of the condition is not easy, especially in children as most of the time their symptoms are waved off as childish pranks or a dislike toward studies and routine. Diagnosis is also otherwise difficult as most eye tests are designed to check vision from a distance. Studies have shown that even a person with 20/20 vision can have convergence insufficiency. The best method of detecting CI is to get your vision checked by a doctor who conducts binocular or two-eyed vision tests.

    The Link Between CI and Upper Respiratory Systems

    • There has been no direct link discovered between CI and conditions of the upper respiratory systems as the two affect different and unlinked systems of the body. However, the two share a common factor in the form of traumatic brain injury or TBI. When the brain suffers damage due to some external force, the injury can have repercussions on other parts of the body including the ocular and upper respiratory systems. In many cases, TBI patients have been found to suffer from conditions of both the upper respiratory system and the ocular system.

    How to Treat Convergence Insufficiency

    • Convergence insufficiency is best treated in children and in a clinical office environment. Additional home treatment is also considered an important part of the correction process. If CI has been caused due to TBI, then treatment would require proper medical diagnosis and care of the underlying condition prior to any treatment for CI. Proper treatment of TBI also has been found to exert positive effects on both convergence insufficiency and upper respiratory system conditions.

    Major Risks

    • Convergence insufficiency does not carry any major risk factors in terms of serious effects on normal life and functioning. In most cases, patients with CI can lead regular lives. It is only when they have to work with things in close quarters and do work that requires high levels of eye concentration that they face problems. That is also when they become more susceptible to respiratory infections.

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