Coloured contact lenses

Coloured contact lenses - Why colour works

Pages of print can resemble a visually stressful pattern. Print can be very “stripy” and for a lot of people this can be uncomfortable to look at. It can be similar to looking at a very stripy pattern for a prolonged time.

For sufferers of Meares-Irlen syndrome, also known as Visual Stress, reading printed words can be challenging. Text appears to move, words merge together into something nonsensical and content is lost to be replaced by swirls of white through the text. Coloured contact lenses are a way of correcting Meares-Irlen syndrome.

It is thought that Visual Stress is caused by 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 visual information are working too fast and not responding in the way they should.

As well as reading difficulties, Visual Stress also causes fatigue, lack of concentration, light sensitivity and headaches.

Within the Visual Cortex, some of the cells are colour sensitive. By placing a colour, in the form of a coloured contact lens, in front of the eye the cells are slowed and calmed to reduce Visual Stress. The colour needed to reduce the hyperexcitability is very precise and individual to each person

Do I have Visual Stress?

Approximately 5% of the population are severely affected by Visual Stress and 20% to a lesser degree. Symptoms of Visual Stress include the following:

Symptoms

• Print that moves or blurs

• Letters changing shape or size

• Letters fading or becoming darker

• Patterns like “worms” or “rivers” running through the print

• Illusions of colour – blobs of colour on the page or colours surrounding letters or words

• Getting fatigued easily when reading

• Headache or eyestrain

Signs

• Moving closer to or away from page

• Restlessness

• Using a finger as a marker

• Skipping words and lines

• Rubbing eyes and blinking excessively

• Low self esteem

Symptoms and signs of visual stress are not always immediately obvious. Many sufferers believe the discomfort they feel when reading or the distortions they experience on the page are “normal” and experienced by everyone. That is until they try correction withappropriate coloured contact lenses and they realise that reading can become more comfortable and even enjoyable.

The simple application of correctly prescribed coloured contact lenses 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

Visual Stress is common among Dyslexic individuals, although it is a separate condition from Dyslexia. If Visual Stress is identified and colour is used to alleviative some of the symptoms this can benefit Dyslexics.

Precision Tinted Contact Lenses can benefit many sufferers of Visual Stress.

However, symptoms of Visual Stress can also be the product of ocular anomalies such as refraction problems or the inability of the eyes to work in unison. Such anomalies can often be rectified by prescribing refraction spectacles or exercises. It is therefore very important that ocular problems are thoroughly investigated before proceeding with a Colorimeter examination – so it’s important you contact a reputable optometrist.

Contact our Poole or Ferndown practice to make an appointment.

Improve sporting performance.

Research has indicated that optimal visual correction can improve sporting performance.