At Osborne Harle we understand that some people with otherwise normal eyesight notice discomfort when viewing a page of print or certain striped patterns.
Some report that things appear to move, wobble or flicker while others say that things appears too bright or the words are too close together. These symptoms often come in conjunction with headache and eyestrain; a potent cocktail of problems known as visual stress. Those affected by the condition may skip words or lines when reading. Others report eyestrain or headaches after reading or see illusions when viewing striped patterns such as Venetian blinds, the tread of escalators or striped shirt. There is now considerable evidence that these symptoms can be relieved in some individuals with a combination of good spectacles, correct binocular vision alignment and by placing a coloured overlay over the print or by wearing spectacles with tinted lenses. The colour required to achieve optimum relief varies between individuals and may change over time. When colour relieves the symptoms of visual stress and improves reading fluency then this is known as Meares-Irlen Syndrome. The most common symptoms associated with Meares-Irlen syndrome are:
- Glare from the page
- Headaches when reading
- Sore eyes when reading
- Movement/blurring of print
The most common signs are:
- Rubbing eyes
- Excessive blinking
- Poor concentration
- Inefficient reading
- Difficulty in keeping place
For some, the effects of colour are dramatic, for others they are slight, for others there may be a positive placebo effect and for some there are no benefits. Some will use a coloured overlay throughout their lives while others seem to "grow out" of the need for an overlay. There is a strong association between migraine, epilepsy, dyslexia, and visual stress. Dr Deacon Harle would be happy to discuss visual stress and visually related headache with his patients and discuss the various options that are available to provide relief.
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