Letter card - Orthoptic exercises for Convergence Insufficiency

Who is the leaflet for? What is its aim?

This leaflet is for patients with a condition called convergence insufficiency (CI), this can be treated by eye exercises. The exercise in this leaflet can be practised at home, and when performed regularly, most patients start to see improvement in symptoms quite rapidly. Your orthoptist will advise you on the types of exercises to do, the way to do them, and how frequently exercises should be practised.

Letter card

The aim of this exercise is to improve your ability to bring your eyes in towards your nose, whilst maintaining clear stable single vision up close.

Wear glasses for exercises? Yes / No

Length of time doing exercises:

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Number of exercise periods per day:

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How to do the letter card exercises:

• If your orthoptist has asked you to wear glasses for your exercises, put these on.
• Hold the letter card on the tip of your nose.
• Look at the letter which is furthest away. If this letter appears clear and single, the rest of the letters should appear to make an “A” shape:

• When you have seen the “A”, and have ensured that the letter you are looking at is clear and single, hold this for a count of five, then look at the next letter closer to you.
• Continue along the line of letters, and you should see the following shapes:

• As you look at each letter, ensure they are clear and single and hold each letter for a count of five.
• When you are unable to see a letter clearly and singly, and/or do not see the A/X/V pattern as above, you should move to the letter one further away from you, and try to get that letter single and clear again.

After doing your exercises, it is important that you relax your eyes by looking into the distance (for instance out of the window) or closing your eyes for a couple of minutes.

When you start doing this exercise, you may find it very difficult, and you may feel increased eyestrain, and headaches. Try not to let this put you off your exercises – they get much easier with practice.

Notes from your orthoptist

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Contact and further information

If you have any difficulties with your exercises, please contact the orthoptic department on 01223 216528

Ophthalmology department
Box: 41
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Hills Road,
Cambridge,
CB2 0QQ