How should a patient be tested for convergence insufficiency?
Convergence insufficiency is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist, optometrist or orthoptist after both obtaining a history of the patient’s symptoms and measuring convergence ability. The examination includes determining the distance from the eyes that the patient can hold the eyes together without double vision (near point of convergence) and the amount of prism that can be placed in front of the eyes at a particular distance before double vision is seen (fusional vergence amplitude). During the same visit any refractive errors, eye muscle dysfunction, or weaknesses in accommodation (near focusing) should also be determined.
