Stereoacuity function relies on accurate binocular alignment, which researchers recently found is disrupted in children with convergence amplitude (CA) abnormalities.

This retrospective chart review included 2,200 patients who ranged from six to 17 years of age. The team observed an increased prevalence of normal stereoacuity as convergence ability improved with a negative correlation between stereoacuity and fusion break point . They noted that convergence insufficiency was significantly associated with below normal stereopsis. Conversely, they added that the prevalence of convergence insufficiency was similar, whether or not symptoms were reported. Looking further into a small subgroup of 21 convergence insufficiency patients who had at least 2.5 years of follow-up data available, they discovered that convergence improved in 66% and the rate of normal stereoacuity increased from 29% at baseline to 76% at last follow-up.

“Evaluation of CA is required in all cases with poor stereoacuity, especially when other etiologies are amiss,” the study authors concluded in their paper. “The role of convergence improvement exercise on stereoacuity warrants further investigation.”