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Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT)

Phase 3
Conditions
Convergence Insufficiency
Binocular Vision Disorder
Registration Number
NCT00338611
Lead Sponsor
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Brief Summary

The purposes of the CITT are:

* To determine whether Home-based Pencil Push-up therapy, Home-based Pencil Push-ups with Computer Vision Therapy/Orthoptics or Office-based VT/Orthoptics more effective than placebo treatment, and whether there are differences between the three treatments in improving subject symptoms and signs.

* To evaluate whether improvements in outcome measures are still present after one year of observation.

Detailed Description

Convergence insufficiency is a prevalent and distinct binocular vision disorder. Typical symptoms include double vision, eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision while reading. It affects approximately 5% of children in the United States, and may have a serious impact on an individual's performance in school, choice of jobs, and quality of life.

There is no consensus regarding the most effective treatment for convergence insufficiency. Two commonly prescribed treatments are home-based pencil push-up therapy and office-based vision therapy/orthoptics. Significant differences exist between these two treatment modalities in cost and number of office visits required, with pencil push-up therapy being less expensive and less time intensive. There have been no well-designed studies that have compared the effectiveness of these two treatments.

The Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) is a prospective, masked, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial in which 208 subjects between the ages of 9 to \< 18 years will be randomly assigned to: 1) Home-based Pencil Push-Up Therapy, 2) Home-based Pencil Push-ups with Computer Vision Therapy/Orthoptics, 3) Office-based Vision Therapy/Orthoptics, or 4) Placebo Office-based Vision Therapy/Orthoptics. The primary outcome measure is a measure of symptoms using a 15-item survey, the CI Symptom Survey. Secondary outcome measures are two common clinical tests of the eyes' ability to converge when performing close work. Patients will be tested at the eligibility examination, and by masked examiners after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment have been completed during the 12-week treatment phase. Long term follow-up will be assessed at 6 and 12 months after the completion of active treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
221
Inclusion Criteria
  • Children between the ages of 9 and 17 years with symptomatic convergence insufficiency
  • Exophoria at near at least 4ฮ” greater than at far
  • Insufficient positive fusional convergence at near
  • A receded near point of convergence of โ‰ฅ6 cm break
  • CI Symptom Survey score โ‰ฅ16
Exclusion Criteria
  • Previous treatment with office-based vision therapy/orthoptics or pencil push-ups
  • Systemic diseases known to affect accommodation, vergence and ocular motility
  • Developmental disability, mental retardation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or learning disability diagnosis that in the investigator's discretion would interfere with treatment

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Measure of symptoms using a 15-item Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey12 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Eyes' ability to converge when performing close work12 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (9)

Ratner Children's Eye Center

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La Jolla, California, United States

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

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Miami, Florida, United States

Pennsylvania College of Optometry

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Mayo Clinic

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Rochester, Minnesota, United States

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry

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Birmingham, Alabama, United States

State University of New York College of Optometry

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New York, New York, United States

The Ohio State University College of Optometry

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Columbus, Ohio, United States

NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry

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Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Southern California College of Optometry

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Fullerton, California, United States

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