convergence , C.I or another type?

[rgvrules]

Other, because im not a child. I seem to have a problem but not sure yet if its C.I or any convergence problem because I wasnt born having it, and i didnt start getting it till i was about 16-17 years old. My questions are do ppl get them at this age? My symptoms started with Double vision( i would only get this after straining my eyes like reading for a very long time, then became pretty permanent at age 16-17), from there other symptoms came up and get worse every year; Blurry Vision, Double Vision, My balance ( walking or standing straight can be a challenge ), Hard time reading, yawn when I'm reading ( every minute ), Feel sleepy when im reading or writting, Loss of attention span, hard time focusing, when i read i have a hard time remembering what it was i just read even though i know i read it. All of those seem to point to Convergence EXCEPT I also developed other symptoms that werent listed as convergence which were; I had trouble remembering AND learning/progressing in H.S. once my Double vision worsen, My mind started blanking out alot, remembering words/sentences was getting harder, pronouncing words i heard  especially long ones became very difficult because of this my speech seem to be affected i could no longer talk fluent, but I would 'Uh' alot or pause sentences, in my mind sentences feel like this ' I might have co---rg--ce' trouble remembering full words/pronunciation in one or more words.

I'm going to see an optometrist soon but don't want to look silly asking him if wether the reason i whent from a good grade student and decent language skills to a struggling kid that eventually had to take special classes and flunk the last few years of H.S.. I dont want him to go, 'no' then feel like i might of just been dumb..

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes you can develop CI at age 16.

The neuro ophthalmologist treats primary eye problems PLUS neurological problems having been trained in both. I think it best suits your needs.

JCH III MD

[rgvrules]

    I've read up on neuro ophthalmologist and what it is they treat and im reading that the cause is usually the brain function and not the eyes etc. I Ive had bad eyes since i was a small boy its not something new, because prior to the double vision I was feeling as if I was putting tremendous strain on my eyes when trying to read, watch, anything that used my eyes especially outdoors. I'm wondering if i developed a type of Convergence over time because of the strain ( glasses weren't helping much, because I had never heard or asked about prism glasses).Things im reading on forums about ppl explaining their kids struggling in school and learning before they had Visual Therapy for convergence. Their symptoms were such as..low attention span, unable to focus or follow instructions, when reading you forget immediately what you just read, Sports become to difficult, headaches or sleepiness while reading, and Home work that should take you 30 minutes would you an hour to do.. things like that I myself started developing in school and sports once my double vision became very bad and glasses didn't seem to work that well. So I'm wondering that if at the age of 16 you can develop Convergence and if I might have had a learning disability ;not one such as dyslexia or anything(not something considered real disability problem) I meant, could that have gotten in the way of school? and if I would of been diagnosed could there have been ways to help me?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I am concerned that you may have a neurological problem causing your symptoms. Convergence insuffiency can cause the near problems but not the neurological symptoms. On the other hand some neuro disease could cause all of them. I would urge you to see a neurologist and a neuro-ophthalmologist. (find one at www.aao.org) JCH III MD