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Title: Prevalence of Convergence Insufficiency in Patients Suffering from Headache.
Authors: Muhammad Ajmal Chaudhary, Salah Ud Din Arbi, Irza Waheed, Muhammad Ajmal Ch, Naima Ahmad, Sadia Haneef
Journal: The Professional Medical Journal (TPMJ)
Publisher: Independent Medical College, Faisalabad- Pakistan
Country: Pakistan
Year: 2023
Volume: 30
Issue: 7
Language: English
DOI: 10.29309/TPMJ/2023.30.07.7520
Keywords: HeadacheDiscomforteye strainConvergence Insufficiency
Objective: To find out the prevalence of convergence insufficiency (CI) in patients suffering from headache. Study Design: Cross Sectional, Observational study. Setting: Departments of Eye, The Children’s Hospitals and The Institute of Child Health, Multan and Govt. Shahbaz Sharif Hospital, Multan. Period: August 2020 to January 2021. Material & Methods: A total of 95 patients between the ages of 08-62 years with a complaint of headache were examined. Both male and female patients having complaint of headache, patients more than 07 years of age and patients with complaint of discomfort and blur vision at near after focusing for few minutes were included. While uncooperative patients, patients less than 07 year of age and patients having systemic and neurological diseases that can cause headache were excluded. Patient's visual acuity (VA) was recorded with Snellen’s chart and refraction was done with retinoscopy/ auto refractometer. Fundoscopy was carried out to find out any pathology i.e., papilledema. Convergence was checked by pencil push-up test and amplitude of accommodation was measured using RAF rule. Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were extracted for categorical variables and mean ± standard deviation (SD) for quantitative variables. Results: In this study, we recruited 95 patients with a complaint of headache between the ages of 08-62 years and mean age was 27.80 years. 68 (71.60 %) were female and 27 (28.40 %) were male. These patients were examined to determine the prevalence of convergence inefficiency in patients suffering from a headache. Out of these 95 patients having headache 27 (28.4%) had poor convergence, 42 (44.2%) had weak convergence and 26 (27.4%) had normal convergence. This study suggested that 69 (72.6%) patients with headache had varying degree of CI. Conclusion: Our study suggested that headache is more common in females than males and CI is the most common cause of headache among these patients. These patients should be assessed and treated to relieve their symptoms and enable them to spend a better quality of life. We recommend ophthalmologists and optometrists to measure CI as a part of their routine ophthalmic examination.
To determine the prevalence of convergence insufficiency (CI) in patients experiencing headaches.
A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the eye departments of The Children's Hospitals and The Institute of Child Health, Multan, and Govt. Shahbaz Sharif Hospital, Multan, from August 2020 to January 2021. A total of 95 patients aged 8-62 years with complaints of headache were examined. Inclusion criteria included patients with headache, aged over 7 years, and experiencing discomfort and blurred vision at near. Exclusion criteria were uncooperative patients, those under 7 years, and patients with systemic or neurological diseases causing headache. Visual acuity, refraction, fundoscopy, convergence (pencil push-up test), and amplitude of accommodation (RAF rule) were assessed. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean ± SD).
graph TD
A[Patient Recruitment 95 patients with headache] --> B[Patient ScreeningInclusion/Exclusion Criteria];
B -- Included --> C[Ophthalmic Examination];
C --> D[Visual Acuity Assessment];
C --> E[Refraction];
C --> F[Fundoscopy];
C --> G[Convergence Assessment Pencil Push-up];
C --> H[Accommodation Assessment RAF Rule];
D --> I[Data Analysis Descriptive Statistics];
E --> I;
F --> I;
G --> I;
H --> I;
I --> J[Results Interpretation];
J --> K[Conclusion and Recommendations];
The study highlights that a significant proportion of patients presenting with headaches have convergence insufficiency. The findings suggest that CI is a common cause of headaches, particularly in females. The authors emphasize the importance of assessing CI as part of routine ophthalmic examinations to relieve symptoms and improve patients' quality of life.
Out of 95 patients with headaches, 69 (72.6%) exhibited varying degrees of convergence insufficiency. Specifically, 27 (28.4%) had poor convergence, 42 (44.2%) had weak convergence, and 26 (27.4%) had normal convergence. The mean age of the participants was 27.80 years, with 68 (71.6%) being female and 27 (28.4%) being male.
Headache is more prevalent in females than males, and convergence insufficiency is identified as a common cause of headache among these patients. Regular assessment and treatment of CI are recommended for ophthalmologists and optometrists to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
- A total of 95 patients were recruited for the study. (Confirmed in Results section)
- 68 (71.60%) of the patients were female. (Confirmed in Results section)
- The study period was from August 2020 to January 2021. (Confirmed in Abstract and Methodology sections)
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