Cintia F. Gomi

The Relationship between Convergence Insufficiency and ADHD

Background: Children being evaluated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have an eye exam as part of their evaluation. The symptoms of convergence insufficiency (CI) can make it difficult for a student to concentrate on extended reading and overlap with those of ADHD. Methods: A retrospective review of 266 patients with CI presenting to an academic pediatric ophthalmology practice was performed. All patients included were diagnosed with CI by one author (DBG) and evaluated for the diagnosis of ADHD. A computerized review was also performed looking at the converse incidence of CI in patients carrying the diagnosis of ADHD. Results: We reviewed 266 charts of patients with CI. Twenty-six patients (9.8%) were diagnosed with ADHD at some time in their clinical course. Of the patients with ADHD and CI, 20 (76.9%) were on medication for ADHD at the time of diagnosis for CI while 6 (23.1%) were either not on medication or the medication was discontinued several months before the diagnosis of CI. The review of computer records showed a 15.9% incidence of CI in the ADHD population. Conclusion: We report an apparent three-fold greater incidence of ADHD among patients with CI when compared with the incidence of ADHD in the general US population (1.8–3.3%) (12). We also note a seeming three-fold greater incidence of CI in the ADHD population. This may simply represent an association and not be a causative relationship. Until further studies are performed, however, patients diagnosed with ADHD should be evaluated to identify the small subset that may have CI – a condition that responds well to treatment at home.

Validity of the convergence insufficiency symptom survey: a confirmatory study.

Purpose. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate whether investigator bias influenced the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) scores of children with normal binocular vision (NBV) in our original validation study, reevaluate the usefulness of the cutoff score of 16, and reexamine the validity of the CISS. Methods. Six clinical sites participating in the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) enrolled 46 children 9 to <18 years with NBV. Examiners masked to the child’s binocular vision status administered the CISS. The mean CISS score was compared with that from the children with NBV in the original, unmasked CISS study and also to that of the 221 symptomatic convergence insufficiency (CI) children enrolled in the CITT. Results. The mean (±standard deviation) CISS score for 46 subjects with NBV was 10.4 (±8.1). This was comparable with our prior unmasked NBV study (mean = 8.1 (±6.2); p = 0.11) but was significantly different from that of the CITT CI group (mean = 29.8 ± 9.0; p < 0.001). Eighty-three percent of these NBV subjects scored <16 on the CISS, which is not statistically different from the 87.5% found in the original unmasked study (p = 0.49). Conclusions. Examiner bias did not affect the CISS scores for subjects with NBV in our prior study. The CISS continues to be a valid instrument for quantifying symptoms in 9 to <18-year-old children. These results also confirm the validity of a cut-point of ≥16 in distinguishing children with symptomatic CI from those with NBV.

Reading: Do the Eyes Have It?

Introduction Pediatric ophthalmologists often will see children in their office who are being evaluated for school-related difficulties. Parents may be misinformed or uninformed and thus are turning to a trusted source for direction. Background Since we typically use our eyes to read the printed word, it would, at first glance, seem obvious that problems with reading equate to eye problems. Therefore, many misconceptions regarding how to impact reading difficulties have ensued. Methods A review of the pertinent literature regarding learning, reading, and the visual system combined with clinical practice was performed. In addition, a review of educational literature and educational psychology literature regarding learning was done. Results A summary of the different aspects that compose reading and learning was created. This should help educate both the specialist and the layperson. There are uncommon ocular problems that can interfere with the physical act of reading, while most of the difficulties in understanding and comprehending are intellectual and educational issues. Conclusion Armed with knowledge, the pediatric ophthalmologist can assist families in insuring that their childs efforts and time are spent in the areas that will most help. In this way, the pediatric ophthalmologist and parents can partner in helping each child achieve their potential.

Usefulness of refractive measurement of wavefront autorefraction in patients with difficult retinoscopy

PURPOSE To assess the ability of the WaveScan WaveFront System (VISX Inc, Santa Clara, CA) to measure refractive errors in patients with difficult retinoscopy and to compare results to standard cycloplegic retinoscopy. METHODS The medical records of patients with an ocular condition that could contribute to difficult or unreliable retinoscopy who underwent nondilated, noncycloplegic evaluation with the WaveScan WaveFront System were reviewed retrospectively. Results were compared to a standard cycloplegic retinoscopy. RESULTS A total of 60 eyes of 31 patients were included. Wavefront sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent measurements were strongly correlated with retinoscopy results; however, the wavefront measured more myopia and more cylinder compared to standard retinoscopy. CONCLUSIONS Wavefront can be used to augment and enhance cycloplegic streak retinoscopy.