Coloured contact lenses

Coloured contact lenses - Why colour works

It is thought that this discomfort when looking at the print and hence the symptoms of Visual Stress in reading difficulties are also due to a hyperexcitability of neurones in the Visual Cortex. This means that some of the cells in the part of the brain which deals with processing of visual information work too fast and do not respond in the way they should.

It has been identified that certain cells in the Visual Cortex are colour sensitive. This means that by placing a colour in front of the eye; the pattern of excitation can be changed. In other words the colour will help to slow and calm these cells therefore quietening the pattern and reducing the Visual Stress. The colour needed to reduce the hyperexcitability is very precise and individual to each person.

This is a condition which is also known as “Mears-Irlen” syndrome.

What is Visual Stress?

Symptoms

• Movement of print
• Blurring of print
• Letters changing shape or size
• Letters fading or becoming darker
• Patterns appearing, sometimes describes as “worms” or “rivers” running through print
• Illusions of colour – blobs of colour on the page or colours surrounding letters or words
• Rapid tiring
• Headache or eyestrain

Signs

• Moving closer to or away from page
• Becoming restless
• Using finger as a marker
• Skipping words and lines 
• Rubbing eyes and blinking excessively 
• Low self esteem

When we look at a very stripy pattern it may feel uncomfortable for us to look at and it may “make our eyes go funny”. This effect can be seen by many individuals who look at print as this is often a “stripy pattern”.

Symptoms of visual stress are not always immediately obvious. Many individuals who suffer with this condition believe the discomfort they feel when reading or the distortions they experience on the page are “normal” and experienced by everyone. That is until someone presents them with an appropriate colour and they realise that reading can become more comfortable and even enjoyable.

The simple application of an overlay at an early stage could save years of anxiety and prevent the downward slide in confidence which occurs in most cases where children struggle to read.

Visual Stress and Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a term used to describe various specific learning difficulties that affect the ability to learn to read and spell correctly. Visual Stress is NOT Dyslexia but can be particularly prevalent in Dyslexic individuals. If Visual Stress is identified and colour is used to alleviative come of the symptoms then other learning difficulties such as Dyslexia are easier to cope with.

Many people with Dyslexia may also suffer with visual stress and can therefore be helped by colour. Equally there are a large percentage of children and indeed adults who are not identified as being Dyslexic but still suffer with these symptoms. The appropriate coloured overlay or Precision Tinted Lenses can also help this group of individuals.

Symptoms of Visual Stress can also be the product of certain ocular anomalies such as refraction problems or the inability of the eyes to work as a team. These anomalies can often be rectified by prescribing refraction spectacles or exercises. It is therefore very important that ocular problems are thoroughly investigated and treated or ruled out or before proceeding with a Colorimeter examination.