Visual stress or otherwise known as Myers-Irlen Syndrome is when the visual cortex (the part of your brain which processes visual information) is over stimulated due to sensitivity to visual patterns.

Signs and Symptoms of visual stress include:

• Text being blurred
• Jumbling of letters and text appearing to move
• Discomfort when reading
• Increased glare from pages, specifically white backgrounds
• Migraines / Headaches
• Fatigue and frustration when reading
• Using finger to guide reading
• Omitting words and lines during reading
• Repeating already read lines and words
• Constantly changing working distance of text to focus
• Patterns seen in reading material

The condition is estimated to affect 40% of people who struggle with reading.

Dyslexic individuals are more prone to undergo visual stress.

At Belper Opticians we can investigate and help manage problems related to vision, which can cause difficulty in reading. Coloured overlays or colour specific tinted lenses can be used to improve reading speed and accuracy and reduce the symptoms of visual stress.

Our approach:

Full Eye examination

Binocular vision problems (all checked during the eye examination) such as the eyes ability to focus together, poor co-ordination of the eyes and reduced muscle strength, can also influence reading ability.

A full eye test therefore will be necessary identify the need for spectacles or exercises which may aid with reading and also ensure the eyes are healthy and the symptoms aren’t present due to any underlying eye conditions.

Coloured Overlay and colorimetry test

If during your eye exam it is decided that testing for visual stress would be beneficial a colorimetry test will be conducted.

We use the digital ReadEZ System, which can help us provide a range of options in reducing the symptoms of visual stess including:

1. Coloured overlays
2. Coloured reading guides
3. Coloured clip-on attachments
4. Coloured tinted lenses
5. Virtual overlay software for PCs.

During the test, your optimal colour and tint will be deduced, which will then make the basis for any visual stress solutions we provide such as clip-ons and overlays. The colour and tint needed varies depending on the individual, therefore the test will allow greater accuracy when selecting your suited colour

Review and manage

We will continue to monitor progress over an agreed time scale with individual or parent and tweak as necessary any coloured solutions being used. Overlays and tinted glasses can occasionally require a new colour to give maximum benefit so a 6 monthly review is usually suggested.

We use the digital ReadEZ System, which can help us provide a range of options in reducing the symptoms of visual stress including:

• Coloured overlays
• Coloured reading guides
• Coloured clip-on attachments
• Coloured tinted lenses
• Virtual overlay software for PCs.

During the test, your optimal colour and tint will be deduced, which will then make the basis for any visual stress solutions we provide such as clip-ons and overlays. The colour and tint needed varies depending on the individual, therefore the test will allow greater accuracy when selecting your suited colour.