Convergence insufficiency is best described as exophoria that is greater at near than at distance.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only at distance
• D. Only at near

Answer: (A)

Convergence insufficiency shows up as a tendency for the eyes to drift outward more when focusing on near tasks than when looking at distant targets. The key sign is exophoria that increases at near, meaning the near misalignment is larger than the distance misalignment. At distance, the demand for convergence is lower, so the exophoria is typically smaller or even within normal range. This pattern—greater near exophoria with reduced convergence reserves and a receded near point of convergence—explains why people with CI experience symptoms like eye strain or blurred distance when reading or doing close work. So describing convergence insufficiency as exophoria greater at near than at distance captures the defining pattern, making it the correct description.