Pang, Yi

SIGNIFICANCE When exploring relationships among clinical measures and patient‐reported outcome measures in adults with convergence insufficiency, worse symptoms (Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey [CISS] score) seemed to be correlated with worse reading function domain score (Adult Strabismus‐20 quality‐of‐life questionnaire). After treatment, improved symptoms were associated with improved reading function quality of life. PURPOSE This study aimed to explore relationships between clinical measures and patient‐reported outcome measures in adults undergoing treatment for symptomatic convergence insufficiency. METHODS In a prospective multicenter observational study, we evaluated adults with symptomatic convergence insufficiency (i.e., clinical measures of near exodeviation, receded near point of convergence, reduced near positive fusional vergence; CISS score ≥21). Fifty‐seven participants treated with vision therapy/exercises (n = 35) or base‐in prism (n = 22) were analyzed. Spearman correlation coefficients ( R ) were used to assess associations among the three clinical measures and patient‐reported outcome measures (CISS, Diplopia Questionnaire, four Adult Strabismus‐20 quality‐of‐life domains) before treatment (baseline) and after 10 weeks and 1 year. Associations were interpreted to be present when the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) was moderate to strong ( R ≥ 0.4). RESULTS Among multiple exploratory analyses, the only moderate to strong baseline correlation was between worse CISS and worse Adult Strabismus‐20 reading function scores ( R = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.76). Regarding change in measures with treatment, the only moderate to strong correlations were between improved CISS and improved Adult Strabismus‐20 reading function scores for prism at 10 weeks ( R = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.91) and 1 year ( R = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.94) and for vision therapy/exercises at 1 year ( R = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.89). CONCLUSIONS In exploratory analyses, we found positive correlations between CISS symptom scores and reading function quality‐of‐life scores. The absence of correlations between symptoms and individual clinical measures is consistent with clinical experience that, in convergence insufficiency, symptoms and clinical findings can be discordant.

Efficient eye movements provide a physical foundation for proficient reading skills. We investigated the effect of in-school saccadic training on reading performance. In this cross-over design, study participants (n = 327, 165 males; mean age [SD]: 7 y 6 mo [1y 1 mo]) were randomized into treatment and control groups, who then underwent eighteen 20-minute training sessions over 5 weeks using King-Devick Reading Acceleration Program Software. Pre- and posttreatment reading assessments included fluency, comprehension, and rapid number naming performance. The treatment group had significantly greater improvement than the control group in fluency (6.2% vs 3.6%, P = .0277) and comprehension (7.5% vs 1.5%, P = .0002). The high-needs student group significantly improved in fluency ( P < .001) and comprehension ( P < .001). We hypothesize these improvements to be attributed to the repetitive practice of reading-related eye movements, shifting visuospatial attention, and visual processing. Consideration should be given to teaching the physical act of reading within the early education curriculum.

Background . Eye movements are necessary for the physical act of reading and have been shown to relate to underlying cognitive and visuoattentional processes during reading. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of saccadic training using the King-Devick remediation software on reading fluency. Methods . In this prospective, single-blinded, randomized, crossover trial, a cohort of elementary students received standardized reading fluency testing pre- and posttreatment. Treatment consisted of in-school training 20 minutes per day, 3 days per week for 6 weeks. Results . The treatment group had significantly higher reading fluency scores after treatment ( P < .001), and posttreatment scores were significantly higher than the control group ( P < .005). Conclusion . Saccadic training can significantly improve reading fluency. We hypothesize that this improvement in reading fluency is a result of rigorous practice of eye movements and shifting visuospatial attention, which are vital to the act of reading.