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Convergence insufficiency: when the eyes don’t work together up close, the symptoms, the check a regular eye exam misses, and treatment
For parents of a child who struggles to read, loses their place or says the words move; for anyone whose eyes get tired, blurry or double with reading or screens; and for anyone with those problems after a concussion. It passes on, by name, what the National Eye Institute (NEI, part of the NIH) says about convergence insufficiency: what it is and the symptoms; the cause; how the eye doctor checks; and the treatment. It builds the questions to ask and prints a card. Nothing is saved.
Right now
- Sudden double vision with a drooping face, weakness or numbness, or trouble speaking? Call 911 (ours: the NEI page does not name 911).
- New double vision after a hit to the head, or a headache that gets worse, repeated vomiting, or more and more sleepiness or confusion? Ours: go to an emergency room the same day (see after a hit to the head).
- It is all too much, or there are thoughts of suicide? Call or text 988, any hour, free (ours).
More help
- Eyes on this site: Lazy eye · Refractive errors · Eyes and sight: find the right page · Glasses and eye exams you can afford.
- Also: After a hit to the head · Learning disabilities · Help at school for your child.
- For you: Get ready for your appointment · Low-cost health care. In an emergency: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 22, 2026 on the National Eye Institute’s (NIH) page Convergence Insufficiency, last updated December 4, 2024. Ours: the 911 and 988 lines; the same day after a hit to the head; asking the eye doctor for the tests by name; telling the school, and that a vision problem and a learning disability can both be there; the questions to ask; the card; the links to our other pages; and the order of the steps. What we left out: the research section and the research news. This page teaches no exercise and makes no promise about reading or grades: ask the eye doctor. Nothing you tick or type here is saved or sent.