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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

Tinted glasses for Irlen's syndrome (how much difference do they make?)

82 replies

teamcullen · 22/07/2009 07:38

My 7 year old was diagnosed with Irlen's syndrome earlier this year, and was reccomended to use a turquoise overlay to help with his reading. However, I was wondering whether to get him further tested to see if he needs the tinted glasses.

He seems to really have to concentrate when doing his work, so dosent produce much although his teacher says the content is good. However this leaves him exhausted. He is also quite clumsy, forever tripping up and knocking things over.

Looking at the Irlen's web site, there are lots of indications that Irlen's effects my son in every day life which, before I hadnt connected to Irlen's.

So, has anybody used the tinted glasses themselves or for their children? Do they make much difference? Most importantly, do they make life easier?

OP posts:
maverick · 29/07/2009 12:27

I'm sorry to say that the plural of anecdote is not data. As Sir Jim Rose wrote in his recent report on dyslexia '(A)ssessment for visual stress and response to treatment is by subjective report' i.e. is not based on scientific evidence.

'There?s a psychological phenomenon known as cognitive dissonance which is the tendency to filter out information that conflicts with what one already believes, in an effort to ignore that information and reinforce one's beliefs. In the context of intervention, it is uncomfortable to conclude that one put in a lot of time and money into a treatment that has not worked. There is likely, therefore, to be a cognitive bias to paint as bright a picture as possible. This seems supported by studies that find a mismatch between people?s perceptions of efficacy and objective evidence.'' (Prof Bishop.BDA 2008. ppt)

BikeRunSki · 29/07/2009 08:17

A good friend of mine (30s) has been wearing purple tints for a couple of years, they make a huge difference. She used to have trouble seeing details (she hadn't seen the vein in a leaf until she started wearing her tints), has passed her driving test and can read large chunks of text without, in her words, "freaking out".

maverick · 29/07/2009 08:11

www.medpagetoday.com/upload/2009/7/27/837.pdf

'Behavioral vision therapy, eye exercises, and colored lenses have no role in treatment of dyslexia and other learning disabilities, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The academy came down hard on these "scientifically unsupported" alternative treatments in a joint statement with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and other vision organizations.'

Fava · 27/07/2009 20:12

Hello teamcullen,
there are 3 of us with tinted glasses. Dc and I find them essential to do any work on the computer, prefer them on when reading and writing. I also wear them when driving at night. I also wore coloured lenses when I was a child and Irlene research had just started to be published.
We didn't go to any of the Irlene centres but chose to book an appointment in Scotland with Ian Jordan. The assessment is free through the NHS, children get a voucher towards their frames and the lenses could also be free (all of ours were).

TurtleAnn · 24/07/2009 13:14

I wouldn't go to Myers Irlen for exactly that reason.
Try ringing The Institute of Optometry in London, they will be able to advise you further about testing options. Although if the school have already identified the problem, diagnosis and intervention - the only thing left is glasses and that should be done by an optometrist (to be double sure there are no additional eye difficulties).
If the overlays work, the only thing I would do extra is make sure the school know he would benefit from a desk lamp in exams. When you can afford it and when you feel he would benefit (when serious exams kick in at school), get glasses.

Original poster
teamcullen · 24/07/2009 08:57

Thanks. I will put some serious thorght into it. To be honest if the testing was cheaper I would'nt even be considering it I would just get the test done.

The assessment my son had at school identified he prefared the turquoise overlays, to read without the lights off and to use a reading stand for his books.

Do you think if I email this information to Irlen's they will give me some more idea to testing suitability. I dont want to be ripped off with them saying yes he needs this that and the other when I cant really afford it. But at the same time if it really improves my son's life and makes school easier I know its worth the money.

OP posts:
TurtleAnn · 23/07/2009 11:21

Absolutely essential. I have this and I spent £300. on blue tinted glasses - they were worth every penny.
My problem is that when I look at a section of text I see the blank spaces more than the words and it can be hard to follow the lines, they also seem to move so I can only focus on a few words at a time - making it harder to hold the whole sentence in my head.
The blue overlay changes the pronouncedness of the white spaces between words and makes seeing the sentences easier.
Lots of opticians in the UK still don't believe this exists - easy if you haven't got it! There are excellent optometrists in South London at the Institute of Optometry who will be able to assess and prescribe overlays and glasses.
I think there is much more research to be done in this field but other things that affect me, that I think are related, are:
I have to turn the brightness down on computer screens to prevent headaches
and turn the refresh rate up (but that should be done for everyone).
I also have to have a background light when watching TV as it seems to bright and leaves me with a headache.
I also got a desklamp in exams which really helped, no extra time, but then with the glasses and the desklamp I didn't need extra time and my grades went through the roof.
I am 33 now and will be watching my DS for signs.