What is Visual Stress?
It is a visual perception problem which makes it difficult to see clearly, particularly to read comfortably. It is not a focussing problem which means that normal spectacle lenses alone cannot correct it. It makes text on a page appear jumbled, moving or simply blurred. The pictures below give an idea of how print can appear to people with the condition.
It is a visual perception problem which makes it difficult to see clearly, particularly to read comfortably. It is not a focussing problem which means that normal spectacle lenses alone cannot correct it. It makes text on a page appear jumbled, moving or simply blurred. The pictures below give an idea of how print can appear to people with the condition.
|
|
|
Does it have other names?
Yes. It was originally called Meares-Irlen syndrome, after the two people who initially identified it. You might also see it called Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome.
Who has Visual Stress?
*A high proportion of Dyslexic individuals also suffer from Visual Stress.
*It is often found in people who also have ADHD, DCD, Autism and other learning difficulties.
*It can trigger Migraines.
*It is found in many people with Parkinson's Disease and Dystonia.
*It may trigger seizures in people with Photosensitive Epilepsy.
*Sometimes people have reading difficulty that is not linked to needing corrective lenses prescribed by Optometrists. The print is hard to read due to distortions due to Visual Stress.
What are the symptoms?
People suffering from Visual Stress may be heard to say:
*’the words move around on the page’
*’when I read I get a headache’
*’the words are blurred/fuzzy’
*’the page is too bright’
*’reading hurts my eyes’
You may find someone with Visual Stress:
*closing their eyes or looking away from the text
*rubbing their eyes
*getting red or watering eyes on reading
*rapidly becoming tired when reading
*losing the place easily
*skipping words or whole lines of text
*having difficulty maintaining a straight line when writing
*having difficulty in copying text from whiteboard
How is it identified?
It is identified by assessment by an eyecare professional who is specially trained. Not all Opticians can do this, although most are aware of it, and can refer you to a Specialist.
Assessment consists of checking that muscle balance and eye movements are normal, and that Visual Perception problems are not present. Then an instrument called the 'Intuitive Colorimeter' is used for assessment. This instrument presents print under successive colours of environment. Colours can then be identified which aid perception, and areas that help can be pinpointed, sometimes with a great degree of accuracy.
Yes. It was originally called Meares-Irlen syndrome, after the two people who initially identified it. You might also see it called Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome.
Who has Visual Stress?
*A high proportion of Dyslexic individuals also suffer from Visual Stress.
*It is often found in people who also have ADHD, DCD, Autism and other learning difficulties.
*It can trigger Migraines.
*It is found in many people with Parkinson's Disease and Dystonia.
*It may trigger seizures in people with Photosensitive Epilepsy.
*Sometimes people have reading difficulty that is not linked to needing corrective lenses prescribed by Optometrists. The print is hard to read due to distortions due to Visual Stress.
What are the symptoms?
People suffering from Visual Stress may be heard to say:
*’the words move around on the page’
*’when I read I get a headache’
*’the words are blurred/fuzzy’
*’the page is too bright’
*’reading hurts my eyes’
You may find someone with Visual Stress:
*closing their eyes or looking away from the text
*rubbing their eyes
*getting red or watering eyes on reading
*rapidly becoming tired when reading
*losing the place easily
*skipping words or whole lines of text
*having difficulty maintaining a straight line when writing
*having difficulty in copying text from whiteboard
How is it identified?
It is identified by assessment by an eyecare professional who is specially trained. Not all Opticians can do this, although most are aware of it, and can refer you to a Specialist.
Assessment consists of checking that muscle balance and eye movements are normal, and that Visual Perception problems are not present. Then an instrument called the 'Intuitive Colorimeter' is used for assessment. This instrument presents print under successive colours of environment. Colours can then be identified which aid perception, and areas that help can be pinpointed, sometimes with a great degree of accuracy.
