What is vergence insufficiency?
Vergence problems are fundamentally not an issue with the eyes themselves, but with the brain’s control of the eyes—that is, eye coordination. Each eye may see well individually, but together they fail to focus on the same point. Find out today if you have vergence problems!
Vergence problems make it difficult to achieve a sharp focus on a single point with both eyes, which is a key issue. As a result, the brain compensates by exerting more effort to achieve clarity, consuming a significant amount of energy in the frontal lobe.
At their core, vergence problems are vision-related issues that can involve both accommodation difficulties and binocular coordination challenges. To see clearly and perceive depth, the eyes must move together in a coordinated and precise manner toward the same point in the visual field. If the eyes do not work together as they should, the brain will struggle to combine the images from both eyes into one unified picture.
Vergence problems often originate at birth but may become more noticeable later in life. Improvement options can include glasses, orthoptic exercises, prism glasses, surgery, and, more recently, watching movies in virtual reality (VR). In recent years, there has been an increase in vergence problems attributed to the growing use of mobile phones and tablets.
Definition and explanation
of vergence insufficiency
Vergence problems is a broad term for accommodation and/or binocular vision issues. It means the eyes do not work together properly, which can lead to symptoms such as tired eyes, pain in and around the eyes, headaches, and double vision. These problems can be congenital or develop later in life, and the increased use of mobile phones and tablets has contributed to a rise in vergence problems.
Proper vergence requires good vision in both eyes and the brain’s ability to effectively merge the images from each eye into a single, unified perception. Since each eye views the world from a slightly different angle, it is the brain’s job to create the real image we perceive. This collaboration between the eyes is crucial for proper focus and coordination of vision.
When vergence works correctly, it provides skills such as stereoscopic vision, depth perception, and the ability to judge speed and distance. For the vergence system to function optimally, fixation and focusing must work together. Quick eye movements are important, and they must maintain fixation to achieve effective vergence.
A growing trend
The effort and close-up work involved in focusing for long periods of time on small screens often tires the eyes. People who were previously able to compensate for minor deviations that they were not even aware of suddenly experience symptoms.
There is a trend towards increased vergence problems among children, with figures of up to 25% reported, along with a rapidly increasing myopia. This is likely a result of the rapidly increasing use of mobile phones and tablets from a very young age. The problem is also very common among people over 60 years of age.
8 Main Causes of Vergence Problems
Innate
Vergence problems are often something you’re born with, but they can also develop or become more noticeable later in life. In recent years, studies have shown that these issues are becoming more common—a trend partly linked to the growing time we spend on digital screens like smartphones and tablets.
Stress
There is a complex relationship between stress and cognitive problems. Mental or physical stress can worsen pre-existing cognitive problems or in some cases contribute to the emergence of such problems. Conversely, difficulties with cognitive problems can lead to increased strain and thereby contribute to stress-related symptoms.
Dysfunction of the eye muscles
Dysfunction in the extraocular muscles of the eye can affect the ability of the eyes to work together, which can result in problems with convergence. When the eyes do not coordinate their movements or focus correctly on a common object, it can lead to symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, impaired concentration, and difficulty judging distances.
Uncorrected vision errors
Uncorrected refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, can affect the ability of the eyes to work together effectively, leading to problems with convergence. This can result in the eyes not being properly aligned towards a common focal point, which can interfere with binocular vision.
Neurological/systemic diseases
Neurological diseases can affect the nerve pathways and muscles that control eye movements, which in turn can lead to impaired coordination. Lack of coordination between the eyes can cause symptoms such as diplopia (double vision), blurred vision, eye fatigue, headaches, and impaired ability to perceive depth and distance accurately.
Vision problems can often be hereditary, and the risk of developing them increases with age. A common cause is hidden strabismus, which is not always obvious but can cause significant discomfort. The use of digital screens, which has increased significantly in today's society, can also lead to an increased risk of vision problems.
When the eyes don't work together properly, it can be difficult to judge distances and focus on tasks. This can lead to a variety of symptoms and signs of vision problems, including eye headaches and eye strain.
It is important to understand that vision problems can have different causes and that correct diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.
This is how the training works:
Stream your favorite series in VR
You can easily train by watching streamed content via the Imvi app on your mobile phone that sits in our VR glasses.
Train while streaming your favorite shows
Through the app you choose what type of content you want to watch. We currently support content from Youtube, SVT Play, Binogi, UR Play and content directly from your phone's camera roll.
Train your eye coordination
The app makes the image stream oscillate from right to left. But your brain perceives it as a regular movie.
You watch your series -
Our App does the rest
The training focuses on improving the brain's control of the eyes for better eye coordination. This improves blood flow and oxygenation of the brain, which increases reading speed, reading endurance and concentration.
Follow your progress
In the app you can easily follow your progress over time and receive recommendations for continued training.
Personalized tips based on your progress
In the app you can follow your or your children's development and results. We offer free accounts for parents to monitor their children's progress! After completing the training, you will receive personal recommendations for further training based on your results and progress.
How vergence insufficiency affect everyday life
People with vergence insufficiency often experience headaches due to the extra effort required to adjust visual information from both eyes. This can lead to fatigue and headaches, which negatively impact productivity in the workplace.
Balance and coordination problems can occur as a result of conflicting visual information. Symptoms of vergence insufficiency can lead individuals to avoid activities that require focus, which affects their quality of life. People may experience difficulty focusing on tasks over time, especially when engaged in close work.
Sensitivity to light is a common symptom, making it uncomfortable for individuals to be in bright environments. Visual disturbances such as blurred vision can accompany difficulties in vision and affect how we see the world around us. All of these factors highlight the importance of identifying and treating vergence problems in a timely manner.
Vergence problems in children
Paying attention to signs of vergence problems in children can lead to early detection and treatment of problems. It is important to detect vision problems early because they can have a major impact on their development. Common signs of vision problems in children include difficulty concentrating on text. They may also show reluctance to look at small screens.
These symptoms can be confused with dyslexia or ADHD due to overlapping symptoms. Tests for diagnosing vergence insufficiency can include methods such as the CISS questionnaire, which is adapted to identify problems in children. Children with vergence insufficiency may also have difficulties with motor coordination, which leads to clumsiness.
Symptoms of vergence insufficiency can affect a child's self-esteem and lead to difficulties in social situations. Recommendations for children's screen time are important to prevent vergence insufficiency and lessen the risk of developing vision problems.
Help for vergence insufficiency
Traditionally, the only effective method for training vergence insufficiency has been so-called pen training, where you follow a pencil with your eyes. This training requires a very long training period and is very monotonous.
Imvi Labs has developed a method that is both entertaining and effective for improving your visual acuity. By streaming movies in our VR glasses, you train your eye coordination and thus visual acuity.
FAQ
How do I know if I have vergence problems?
To know if you have vergence insufficiency, you can look for signs such as eye strain, headaches, and difficulty judging distances. If your eyes are not working together effectively, it can be an indication of a vision problem. We also offer a free test that you can take here.
What are common symptoms of vergence problems?
Common symptoms of vergence problems include headaches, eye strain, blurred vision, double vision, and difficulty focusing on text. It is important to pay attention to these signs and seek medical attention in a timely manner.
Can eye coordination problems be trained?
Yes, vergence insufficiency can be trained through various methods, including eye coordination training that focuses on improving eye coordination. Traditional exercises, such as moving a pencil back and forth, are examples of this training. Imvi Labs has developed a method that trains eye contact problems by watching movies in VR.
How does the training work?
You train your eyes to coordinate by watching videos with the Imvi app in our VR glasses. Through our patented technology, the film swings sideways and makes the eyes follow the same movement, while the brain perceives a regular film.
You choose what you want to watch from, for example, YouTube and SVT Play.