New Treatment Seen For Childhood Eye Problem (NAPSA)—Thanks to recent research, a new treatment for a common childhood eye problem is coming into focus. Scientists report they have found a more effective treatment for a common childhood eye-muscle coordination problem called convergenceinsufficiency (CI). A child’s eyes must turn in- ward, or converge, when reading in order for words on a page to appear in focus. For children with CI, the eyes do not converge easily. As a result, additional muscular effort must be used to make the eyes turn in. Symptomsof this condition include loss of place, loss of concentration, reading slowly, eyestrain, headaches, blurry vision and double vision. Until recently, home-based therapy has been the treatment of choice for this condition. A new Scientists report they have found a more effective way to treat a common childhood eye-muscle coordination problem called con- vergenceinsufficiency (Cl). need to assist children with this condition.” After 12 weeks of treatment, office-based treatment by a trained therapist along with at-homereinforcement is more effective. The research, reported in the Oct.13 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, was funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The 12-week study, known as the Convergence Insufficiency nearly 75 percent of children who were given the office-based vision therapy along with at-home reinforcement achieved normal vision or had significantly fewer symptomsof CI. According to principal investigator Mitchell Scheiman, O.D., of Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University near Philadelphia, Pa., the study demonstrates that once diagnosed, CI can be successfully treated with office-based vision therapy by a trained therapist along with at-home reinforcement. that approximately 75 percent of those who received in-office therapy by a trained therapist plusathome treatment reported fewer and less severe symptomsrelated to reading and other near work. Said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI, “The CITT will provide eye care professionals with the research they for parents, educators and anyone who may know a child diagnosed with CI. A 12-month follow-up study is being conducted to examine the long-term effects of these CI treatments. Further information about the reported trial, NCT 00338611, can be found at www.clinicaltrials. gov. study, however, concludes that Treatment Trial (CITT), found He sees this as encouraging news
