Office-based Vision Therapy Research Articles

Effects of Two Vision Therapy Approaches on Accommodative Insufficiency and Post-therapy Stability.

To evaluate the effect of the EYEPORT II vision training system (Bernell) on accommodation in cases of accommodative insufficiency. The experimental study was conducted in a binocular vision clinic. Of 230 patients, 36 were eligible and willing to participate in office-based therapy. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: control and EYEPORT. The control group received conventional therapy and the EYEPORT group received conventional therapy combined with the EYEPORT II vision training device. The therapy lasted for 1 hour daily over 6 days in a week, with 24 sessions administered over 4 weeks. Accommodative parameters were reevaluated 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 24 months after treatment. The study included 19 men and 17 women, with a median age of 27.50 years. After 24 sessions of vision therapy, accommodative parameters improved significantly, with more pronounced results compared with baseline measurements, as demonstrated by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P < .05). The Mann-Whitney U test indicated a significant (P < .05) improvement in treatment outcomes for the EYEPORT group using the EYEPORT device together with conventional therapy. The median accommodation amplitude increased by 6.95 diopters (D), the accommodation lag decreased by -0.25 D, the positive relative accommodation improved by -1.63 D, and the accommodative facility increased by 13 cycles/minute. After 3 months without therapy, the treatment outcome was maintained. Office-based vision therapy can effectively treat accommodative insufficiency. Both groups showed improvement in the accommodative amplitude and other parameters. The EYEPORT group was more stable at 3 months. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;XX(X):XXX-XXX.].

Outcome Measures of In-Office Optometric Visual Rehabilitation Intervention on Oculomotor Function, Visual Processing Skills, and Reading Efficiency Scores in Children with Formally Identified Academic Difficulties

Oculomotor dysfunction (OMD) and visual information processing (VIP) deficits are often seen in children with reading difficulties. Prior published evidence has shown statistically significant correlations between several metrics, in particular vergence facility and reading efficiency at baseline within an office-based vision therapy (OBVT) setting supported by home vision therapy (HVT). However, data on the effects of OBVT on OMD, VIP deficits, and reading performance is currently lacking. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether vision therapy improves VIP deficits in children diagnosed specifically with a dyseidetic based reading problem with confirmed concurrent oculomotor dysfunction.

CPD: Are home-based convergence exercises an effective form of treatment for convergence insufficiency?

Mathury Sooriyakumaran evaluate the effectiveness of home-based convergence exercises against office-based vision therapy or placebo treatment. This is an edited version of the 2021 City University/Optician Best Dissertation prize-winner (C106042, suitable for logging as one distance learning CPD point for optometrists and dispensing opticians)

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Convergence Insufficiency Prevalence and Management Options

Background: Convergence insufficiency (CI) is one of the most common binocular vision disorders. The condition negatively affects the quality of life through its impact on near activities, while there is a large gap in the information on its global prevalence and consensus on treatment. Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the prevalence and treatment options available for convergence insufficiency. Methods: The study was performed in 2023 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-2020) guidelines. The authors have searched Google Scholar, Research Gate, Scopus, PubMed, Index Medicus, Web of Science, and the JAMA network. This review included peer-reviewed studies published between January 2000 to January 2023 that assessed the prevalence and treatment modalities of convergence insufficiency. Results: The authors screened 13250 studies, 20 for prevalence and 15 for treatment from 12 countries that met the inclusion criteria for the study. The overall pooled prevalence of convergence insufficiency was 7.98%, and the heterogeneity between the studies was highly significant P &lt; 0.0001. Majorities of the studies 12(80%) reported that office-based vision therapy is the most effective treatment of CI, form those studies 5(42.0%) highlighted that office-based vergence/accommodative therapy with home reinforcement is the best modality of treatment. Whereas, home-based pencil push-up therapy, vision therapy with modified refractive correction, and vision therapy with prismatic correction were reported as effective treatment options for CI. The reviewed studies showed that vision therapy is highly effective to recover from symptomatic CI in both adults and children. Conclusion: The prevalence of convergence insufficiency was high, there was highly significant heterogeneity between the reviewed studies. Office-based vergence/accommodative therapy with home reinforcement is the best modality of treatment, followed by home-based pencil push-up therapy, vision therapy with modified refractive correction, and vision therapy with prismatic correction. There is consensus among reviewed studies that vision therapy is highly effective to recover from symptomatic CI in both adults and children.

Vision therapy for intermittent exotropia: A case series

IntroductionWe evaluated the effectiveness of office-based vergence/accommodative therapy with home reinforcement for intermittent exotropia in a private practice environment. MethodsThis was a retrospective chart review study. Patients who received office-based vision therapy for intermittent exotropia in a private optometric clinic were reviewed. Patients with intermittent exotropia treated with and without strabismus surgery were both included. The pre-therapy baseline data were compared to the re-evaluation data obtained at the last therapy session. All patients received office-based vergence/accommodative therapy administered by a trained therapist during a 60 min office visit every one to two weeks, combined with home reinforcement for a minimum of 15 min, five times per week. The primary outcome measure in this study was the change in the Office Control Score from the pre-therapy visit to the post-therapy visit. The hypothesis was that office-based vergence/accommodative therapy would significantly improve the Office Control Score. ResultsForty patients aged from 5 to 22 years old fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Eight of them were postoperative patients. After treatment, there was a change of −1.1 ± 1.6 (p < 0.001, z = 3.73, effect size: 0.42) and −1.1 ± 1.4 (p < 0.001, z = 4.26, effect size: 0.48) in distance and near Office Control Score, respectively. In the subgroup analysis, significant improvements in the Office Control Score were observed in both the operated and unoperated intermittent exotropes at distance and near. ConclusionThis study showed that office-based vergence/accommodative therapy with home reinforcement significantly improved the distance and near control of exodeviation in both operated and unoperated intermittent exotropia patients in a private practice environment.

Effects Of Home-Based Convergence Insufficiency Vision Therapy On Accommodation Among School Going Children

Effects of home-based convergence insufficiency vision therapy on accommodation among school going children &#x0D; Wekesa Andrew1, Wanzala Maximilla1&#x0D; 1Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Kakamega, Kenya.&#x0D; &#x0D; Abstract &#x0D; Background: Convergence and accommodation are always yoked together and any adjustment on the former affects the later. The most effective treatment for convergence insufficiency (CI) is vision therapy.&#x0D; Aim/Purpose: To determine the effects of home-based vision therapy on accommodation in school-going with CI attending the Masinde Muliro University Academic Vision Center in Kenya.&#x0D; Methods: A clinical experimental design involving 23 participants with the mean age of 14±2.4 years, were recruited into the study, however, only 18 were assessed after the therapy. The study took 9 weeks thus majority lost contact while others moved out of the town. Home-based vision therapy which is undertaken at home using a pencil or broke strings. During the therapy, accommodative values were monitored which were; negative relative accommodation, positive relative accommodation, dynamic accommodation, accommodative facility and near point of accommodation. Paired t-test used to compare mean values before and after the therapy.&#x0D; Results: The mean value of negative relative accommodation (NRA) before (mention what the mean values were here) and after (mention what the mean values were here) home-based therapy was statistically significant (p=0.01). However, the mean values before and after home-based therapy for the near point of accommodation (NPA), dynamic (Lag), relativity (PRA) and facility (MAF) showed no difference (p&gt; 0.05). The mean value of the NRA before and after office-based vision therapy was statistically significant (p=0.01).&#x0D; Conclusion: The use of home-based vision therapy for the patients with CI had significant effects on accommodation changing from a lower limit to average after the therapy.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Convergence insufficiency, Accommodation, Home-based vision therapy.

Use of Remote Optometric Vision Therapy in a Primary Eye Care Practice

Many optometrists supplement office-based vision therapy with home-based vision therapy procedures. Others prescribe primarily home-based vision therapy activities with in-office instruction. With recent development of telehealth online platforms, it is possible to enhance home-based vision therapy with one-on-one doctor-guided and vision therapist-guided remote optometric vision therapy (ROVT). This may increase access for times when the patient is not able to present to the office. Procedures for implementing ROVT are discussed including patient selection, case management, and technical requirements. 35 patients received ROVT, with the vast majority responding positively. Three cases of ROVT are presented. While there are significant limitations to ROVT, this experience shows that it is possible to conduct ROVT when there is need. We found that case selection and parental support at home are important factors for success.

Integrating binocular vision assessment in refractive surgery work-up: Proposition and protocol.

Refractive surgeries are one of most commonly performed surgeries for correcting visual impairment due to refractive errors. With the increase in demand for refractive surgeries, there is an enormous strain on the operating surgeon for delivering ideal outcomes i.e 20/20 visual acuity. Regression, under-correction and ectasia are the most dreaded complications post-refractive correction, for the surgeon as well as the patient. They have significant effects on the quantity of the vision and most importantly on the quality of life of the patient. With the advent of digital era and jobs requiring the eyes being glued to the screen for hours there has been a surge in the patients presenting with complaints of asthenopia, glare, halos, and difficulty in focusing; pointing towards diagnosis of non-strabismic binocular vision anomalies (NSBVA). NSBVA in a postrefractive surgery patient may masquerade as regression or under-correction. However, timely diagnosis of NSBVA in such patients would prevent the greater harm caused by wrongful re-correction. Home- and office-based vision therapy results in improvement in visual acuity in a large majority of these patients. This preferred practice pattern intends to guide the refractive surgeons to diagnose and treat the postrefractive surgery NSBVA following a case-based and algorithmic approach. It also emphasizes the inclusion of the binocular vision assessment as a part of the pre-operative workup for patients undergoing refractive procedures.

Management of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Case Report and Brief Review

Background Unilateral functional amblyopia due to anisometropia is a common cause of vision loss in children. There has been a significant amount of research recently to determine the most effective management strategies for such cases, and it is important for clinicians to determine how to apply these findings clinically. Case Report A 6-year-old female presented for her first comprehensive eye exam after failing a school vision screening. She was diagnosed with significant anisometropia with anisometropic amblyopia in her left eye. She was treated with spectacle correction initially, and was eventuallyfit with soft contact lenses to achieve optimal vision and binocularity. Part-time occlusion therapy was also initiated, which was modified throughout the treatment period based on clinical findings. She was also treated with 19 sessions of office-based vision therapy in order to maximize the success of amblyopia treatment. At the completion of the treatment, this patient showed significant improvement in her visual acuity and other non-acuity factors, including contrast sensitivity and binocularity. Conclusions The successful treatment of this patient with anisometropic amblyopia was achieved by the combination of active vision therapy with evidence-based management strategies, consisting of optical correction and occlusion therapy

Disorders of Vergence Eye Movements.

The purpose of this review is to summarize current understanding regarding disorders of gaze with comitant ocular misalignment at distance or near and a full range of extraocular movement. Emphasis is placed on clinical features that may be used to differentiate underlying neurologic disease from the more common benign causes. The approach to the diagnostic evaluation and treatment is discussed. Randomized controlled trials and Cochrane review suggest the superiority of formal office-based vision therapy in treating convergence insufficiency in children. Divergence insufficiency in older adults is a common disorder caused by involution of connective tissues in the orbit. In contrast, divergence insufficiency in children may be a harbinger of central nervous system disease, particularly intracranial tumors. Disorders of vergence are common in pediatric and aging adult populations. Benign causes are common but appropriate history and exam emphasizing ocular motility is essential to rule out more concerning diagnoses. Atypical presentations should prompt comprehensive evaluation including neuroimaging. Treatment of benign causes of vergence abnormalities should have a stepwise approach, beginning with the least invasive available intervention, though some patients may require surgery.

2017 Glenn A. Fry Award Lecture: Establishing an Evidence-based Literature for Vision Therapy - A 25-year Journey.

In this article, I summarize the 2017 Glenn A. Fry Award Lecture and my journey from student, to clinician, to optometric educator, and finally researcher/vision scientist. Although content for many years of teaching and practicing vision therapy, the era of evidence-based health care created a level of discomfort, as it became evident that my area of interest, vision therapy, had minimal quality evidence to support its use. Joining forces with a group of exceptional colleagues, we established the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Investigator group, and we were able to achieve funding from the National Eye Institute for multiple randomized clinical trials. The results of our studies demonstrate that vision therapy is an effective treatment option for convergence insufficiency in children, and office-based therapy is more effective than home-based therapy. These studies also demonstrated that home-based pencil push-ups commonly used by both optometrists and ophthalmologists are no more effective than placebo therapy. More recently, working in a new arena of objective recording of vergence, accommodative, and versional eye movements, my research has demonstrated that objective outcome measures of vergence are feasible for future randomized clinical trials. In pilot studies with both naturally occurring convergence insufficiency and concussion-related convergence insufficiency, statistically significant and clinically meaningful changes have been found in both disparity vergence peak velocity and response amplitude after office-based vision therapy. With new evidence about the high prevalence of concussion-related convergence insufficiency, there is much work to be accomplished to study the effectiveness of vision therapy for convergence insufficiency as well as the underlying mechanisms for how and why vision therapy is effective.

Combined Office-based Vergence Therapy and Home Therapy System for Convergence Insufficiency in Egyptian Children.

Background:Convergence Insufficiency (CI) is a common binocular vision disorder characterized by exophoria more at near than at far, a receded Near Point of Convergence (NPC), and decreased Positive Fusional Vergence (PFV) at near. This disorder is often associated with several symptoms that may disturb the person’s quality of life. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of CI is a vital issue.Objectives:To compare therapeutic yield of Office Based Vision Therapy (OBVT) and combined OBVT with Home Therapy System (HTS) in patients with CI.Methods:The study included 102 patients with age range of 7-13 years. All patients underwent Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) scoring, estimation of Near Point of Convergence (NPC) and determination of Positive Fusional Vergence at near (PFV) using Sheard’s criterion. Patients were randomly allocated in two groups: Group I: received Office-based Vision Therapy (OBVT) and Group II: received OBVT with home reinforcement using the Home Therapy System (HTS). At the end of 12th week of therapy; outcome was determined as Successful (all the following: CISS score of <16, NPC <6 cm and PFV >15Δ), Improved (CISS score of <16 or a 10 points-decrease and one of the following: NPC <6cm or improved by >4 cm, PFV >15Δ or increased by > 10Δ), Insufficient response (NPC <6cm or improved by >4 cm, PFV >15Δ or increased by > 10Δ) and non-responders.Results:At the end of the 12th week of therapy, the applied therapeutic polices were successful in 48 patients (47.1%), the symptoms were improved in 30 patients (29.4%), improvement was insufficient in 13 patients (12.7%) and 11 patients (10.8%) were considered as non-responders. There was significantly higher frequency of patients with improved outcome in group II (86%) compared to group I (69.2%).Conclusion:OBVT with home supplement using HTS provided a high success rate, and it seems to be superior to OBVT alone in treatment of children with convergence insufficiency after 12-week course of therapy.

Objective Assessment of Vergence after Treatment of Concussion-Related CI: A Pilot Study.

To evaluate changes in objective measures of disparity vergence after office-based vision therapy (OBVT) for concussion-related convergence insufficiency (CI) and determine the feasibility of using this objective assessment as an outcome measure in a clinical trial. This was a prospective, observational trial. All participants were treated with weekly OBVT with home reinforcement. Participants included two adolescents and three young adults with concussion-related, symptomatic CI. The primary outcome measure was average peak velocity for 4° symmetrical convergence steps. Other objective outcome measures of disparity vergence included time to peak velocity, latency, accuracy, settling time, and main sequence. We also evaluated saccadic eye movements using the same outcome measures. Changes in clinical measures (near point of convergence, positive fusional vergence at near, Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey [CISS] score) were evaluated. There were statistically significant and clinically meaningful changes in all clinical measures for convergence. Four of the five subjects met clinical success criteria. For the objective measures, we found a statistically significant increase in peak velocity, response accuracy to 4° symmetrical convergence and divergence step stimuli, and the main sequence ratio for convergence step stimuli. Objective saccadic eye movements (5 and 10°) appeared normal pre-OBVT and did not show any significant change after treatment. This is the first report of the use of objective measures of disparity vergence as outcome measures for concussion-related convergence insufficiency. These measures provide additional information that is not accessible with clinical tests about underlying physiological mechanisms leading to changes in clinical findings and symptoms. The study results also demonstrate that patients with concussion can tolerate the visual demands (over 200 vergence and versional eye movements) during the 25-minute testing time and suggest that these measures could be used in a large-scale randomized clinical trial of concussion-related CI as outcome measures.

Near Point of Convergence after Concussion in Children.

To determine the incidence of abnormal near point of convergence (NPC) after acute concussion in pediatric patients and to describe the clinical course of such patients. A retrospective cohort study of 275 pediatric patients 5 to 18 years of age presenting to a tertiary care children's hospital subspecialty concussion program with a new concussion between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015 was conducted. Sixty-seven out of 275 pediatric patients presenting to a subspecialty concussion referral program were found to have abnormal NPC on physical examination as measured by an accommodative rule. Twenty-six (46%) patients recovered with standard clinical care over a median time frame of 4.5 weeks (range 1-18), including a brief period of cognitive and physical rest followed by gradual return to school and physical activities without any formal interventions. An additional 23 (41%) patients recovered a median of 11 weeks post-injury after referral for formal vestibular therapy, including interventions for abnormal convergence, such as Brock string and pencil pushups. Seven (13%) patients with persistent abnormal NPC and concomitant symptoms that necessitated referral for formal office-based vision therapy with developmental optometry recovered a median of 23 weeks post-injury and a median of 16 weeks after referral to vision therapy. Assessment for NPC is a diagnostic entity that warrants consideration in children with concussion. Concussion questionnaires may not be sensitive to detect vision symptoms in children, making an accurate assessment for convergence important in the evaluation of concussion. Some children with abnormal NPC will recover without any formal intervention after concussion; however, a subset of patients with persistent abnormal NPC after concussion may benefit from interventions including vestibular and/or vision therapy.

Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency in Childhood: A Current Perspective

To provide a current perspective on the management of convergence insufficiency (CI) in children by summarizing the findings and discussing the clinical implications from three recent randomized clinical trials in which we evaluated various treatments for children with symptomatic CI. We then present an evidence-based treatment approach for symptomatic CI based on the results of these trials. Finally, we discuss unanswered questions and suggest directions for future research in this area. We reviewed three multi-center randomized clinical trials comparing treatments for symptomatic (CI) in children 9 to 17 years old (one study 9 to 18 years old). Two trials evaluated active therapies for CI. These trials compared the effectiveness of office-based vergence/accommodative therapy, office-based placebo therapy, and home-based therapy [pencil push-ups alone (both trials), home-based computer vergence/accommodative therapy, and pencil push-ups (large-scale study)]. One trial compared the effectiveness of base-in prism reading glasses to placebo reading glasses. All studies included well-defined criteria for the diagnosis of CI, a placebo group, and masked examiners. The primary outcome measure was the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey score. Secondary outcomes were near point of convergence and positive fusional vergence at near. Office-based vergence/accommodative therapy was significantly more effective than home-based or placebo therapies. Base-in prism reading glasses were no more effective than placebo reading glasses for the treatment of symptomatic CI in children. Recent clinical trials showed that office-based vision therapy was successful in about 75% of patients (resulting in normal or significantly improved symptoms and signs) and was the only treatment studied which was more effective than placebo treatments for children with symptomatic CI. Eye care providers who do not currently offer this treatment may consider referring these patients to a doctor who provides this treatment or consider expanding the treatment options available within their practice to manage this condition.