Living with Convergence Excess
Vision Therapy Parents Unite is a great Facebook group for parents looking to hear from other families dealing with vision issues. This is Dr. Jesse’s response to a mother who just discovered her daughter had convergence excess.
I’m a doctor who provides vision therapy, but I actually want to give you my opinion as a person with Convergence Excess. One important thing to know about these conditions is that they are not acquired diseases that are cured – they are ways of seeing that were learned, but are often very inefficient and limiting for the individual, so better ways of seeing need to be taught – that’s what vision therapy is.
I grew up always being told I was a smart kid, but I often felt like an imposter. I always did well in school, but by the time I got to high school, I was usually one of the last ones to turn in tests, I often ran out of time on timed reading tests, and I couldn’t read a book for more than 15 minutes without starting to see double and feeling like I was going to fall asleep.
I would listen to my friends talk about how many books they read and thought they were either lying or not really reading because I couldn’t conceive of it.
College was especially a chore. I got by on listening to lectures because I could t keep up with 90% of the reading.
When I got to optometry school, I got my first diagnosis. I got bifocals and vision therapy – and now I can see reading a whole different way. But it’s really tough to undo 2 decades worth of how you learned to see and read. If I could have had the right diagnosis and treatment when I was younger, my enjoyment of life for years would have been radically different.
That’s why I do vision therapy, and that’s why almost every doctor I know who does vision therapy does it – because if done with diligence and care, it can completely change lives.
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have a vision issue, it is essential to consult a developmental optometrist to prevent potential lifelong challenges associated with these conditions. A developmental optometrist, such as Dr. Jesse Willingham, conducts comprehensive evaluations that go beyond standard eye exams. This in-depth testing helps identify the root causes and allows the doctor to develop an effective treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs.
