Vision therapy does not improve reading scores

New research has highlighted that vision therapy does not boost reading scores, although it is effective in addressing convergence insufficiency.

The study, which was published in Optometry and Vision Science, involved 310 children with convergence insufficiency between the ages of nine and 14 who were randomly assigned either in-office vision therapy or in-office placebo therapy.

After 16 weeks, reading performance and clinical signs of convergence insufficiency were assessed.

There was statistically no difference in the reading comprehension improvement between the children given vision therapy and those who were given a placebo treatment.

However, between 75% and 80% of children within the group assigned vision therapy fell in the normal range for convergence insufficiency, compared to 30% within the placebo therapy group. 

Image credit: Lisa Jordan/Ohio State University