Combining Yoked Prisms and Low Plus Lenses to Improve Function in Pediatric Patients with Convergence Insufficiency

Vision therapy is known to be an effective treatment for convergence insufficiency (CI). However, every patient may not be a candidate for vision therapy due to time constraints, financial means or maturity. Past studies have shown that lenses or prisms alone do not reduce symptoms for patients with CI.1 In contrast, the literature does show that combining prisms and reading lenses can relieve asthenopia in symptomatic presbyopes.2 The following three cases outline the use of combined prisms and plus lenses to treat pediatric patients with convergence insufficiency. Due to age or time constraints, these patients were not candidates for weekly in-office therapy. Each patient was examined after two months of full time wear of the glasses. Results show the most improvement in near point of convergence (NPC), stereopsis, and symptoms of diplopia.