Orthoptics is part of a broader type of therapy known as vision therapy. Orthoptics aims to strengthen the eye muscles to correct common eye problems such as convergence insufficiency, a muscle problem that makes it difficult for your eye to turn inward, or converge, to visualize an object. Convergence is essential for focusing on words on a page. Do orthoptic exercises both in the doctor's office and at home for the best results. Different exercises treat specific eye problems.
Barrel Cards
Barrel cards help you voluntarily converge and diverge the eyes on an object. The white card, printed with several colored barrels, is held with the card edge against your nose with the chin elevated slightly. Focus on each barrel for five seconds, then move to the next barrel.
Brock String
A Brock string, sometimes called Brock's string, is a white string strung with several colored beads. Using the Brock string helps diagnose and treat physiological diplopia, or double vision. Place one end of the string against your nose while the other end is held taut against a more distant object. You may see two beads of one color and only one bead of another color. Changing the location of the beads and changing your focus from one bead to another helps develop better convergence skills. You can also use red and green lenses in conjunction with the Brock string.
Pencil Pushup
Do pencil pushups by holding a pencil at arm's length with the point facing your eyes. Tape a white card to the wall about 6 to 8 feet behind you. As the tip of the pencil comes closer to your eyes, focus on the tip. The one card should appear as two cards as you focus on the tip of the pencil. When the pencil tip appears to double, start the exercise again. When the white card appears as a single card, stop moving the pencil and blink until the card again appears to double. Do pencil pushups for approximately 15 minutes a day at home. A study in the July 2005 issue of "Optometry and Vision Science" by lead author Doctor of Optometry Mitchell Scheiman of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry found that despite its popularity, the pencil pushup technique doesn't achieve clinically significant improvement in people with convergence insufficiency.
References
- CITT Manual of Procedures: Office-Based Vision Therapy
- National Eye Institute: More Effective Treatment Identified for Common Childhood Vision Disorder
- Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science: Brock's String
- Optometrists Network: All About Strabismus
- "Optometry and Vision Science": A Randomized Clinical Trial of Vision Therapy/ Orthoptics Versus Pencil Pushups; Michell Scheiman, O.D.; July 2005
