Korean J Ophthalmol.  2011 Jun;25(3):185-188. 10.3341/kjo.2011.25.3.185.

Effectiveness of Home-Based Pencil Push-ups (HBPP) for Patients with Symptomatic Convergence Insufficiency

• Kim KM
• Chun BY

• KMID: 1010026
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2011.25.3.185

Abstract

PURPOSE
To report the effectiveness of home-based pencil push-ups (HBPP) therapy for patients with symptomatic convergence insufficiency.
METHODS
Data was collected prospectively on 16 patients who were diagnosed with convergence insufficiency beginning in January 2009. The study group was composed of ten male and six female patients. The duration of symptoms, refractive error, distant and near deviation angles, and near point of convergence (NPC) prior to and after 12 weeks of HBPP therapy were measured in all patients.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 19.3 years. The mean deviation angle of exophoria was 3 prism diopters (PD) at distant and 11.2 PD at near. The mean value of NPC prior to HBPP therapy was 36.3 cm; however, the near point of accommodation was within the normal range. After 12 weeks of HBPP therapy, the mean deviation angle of exophoria decreased to orthophoric at distant and 4 PD at near. The mean value of NPC decreased to 14.4 cm.
CONCLUSIONS
Twelve weeks of HBPP therapy appears to be an easy, cost-free and effective therapy for patients with symptomatic convergence insufficiency.

Keyword

Home-based pencil push-ups; Near point of convergence; Convergence Insufficiency

MeSH Terms

Accommodation, Ocular
Adolescent
Adult
Child
*Convergence, Ocular
Exotropia/*physiopathology/*therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Prospective Studies
*Self Care
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 After 12 weeks of home-based pencil push-ups (HBPP) therapy, the mean angle of exodeviation decreased from 3 prism diopters (PD) to orthophoria at distance and from 12 PD to 4 PD at near.

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  Fig. 2 The mean value of near point of convergence (NPC) decreased from 36.6 cm to 14.4 cm after 12 weeks of home-based pencil push-ups (HBPP) therapy.

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