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Advice needed on Irlens Syndrome

6 replies

mumoy · 03/09/2010 21:49

My 7 year old DD has been complaining about wavy lines when she is reading and the words moving together, she is also feels physically sick when she reads. I took her to an opticians who could find nothing wrong so I was in dispair until someone mentioned she could be dyslexic,her school will not test her - long story! So I have had her tested privately by a specialist teacher who does not think this is the case but believes she has Irlens Syndrome/Visual Stress. This is all new to me and until two weeks ago I had never heard of it! I have started looking into coloured overlays/reading rulers and tinted glasses. Can anyone tell me what their experiences of this has been and how much help is out there for this condition. Thanks

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DBennett · 05/09/2010 10:52

Meares-Irlens Syndrome (sometimes known as Photopic Sensitivity Syndrome) is a disorder related to hyper-excitability in the visual cortex (in this respect it is similar to migraine).

The symptoms that your daughter describes could be Meares-Irlens but there are a few eye disorders that can give rise to those symptoms that ought to be excluded first.

You mentioned that you had already been to an optician but this is fairly specialised work.
Do you happen to be near one of the universities which teach optometry (Birmingham, Bradford, Cambridge, Cardiff, Coleraine, Glasgow, London, Manchester).

I think all of these have clinics that can rule these out and also have clinics to discuss colour-based therapies.

You mention coloured overlays and tinted lenses. There is good evidence that these do work above a placebo effect but the effect can be marginal and depending on how you go into this, the treatment can be expensive.

I think that's probably enough to be going with, feel free to post again if I have been unclear or, more hopefully, you have more questions.

mumoy · 05/09/2010 15:50

Many thanks for this information, I am in London so I will look into clinics as well.

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DBennett · 05/09/2010 16:47

The Optometry Course is at City University.

You may also want to look at the Institute of Optometry.

Some services might be available on the NHS in your area but it varies.

mumoy · 06/09/2010 21:32

Hi DBennett thank you again for this information, I have now booked an appointment with my GP to see if I can get a referral. If not I will contact City University and the Institute of Optomery direct to see what my options are.

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bramblebooks · 06/09/2010 22:08

Hi mumoy
My son has Irlens. He has a pair of tinted specs which help him a lot. he is also dyslexic.
The lenses are 'harris lenses' - I believe there's a website, so maybe there's a few people working nationally.
You need to have an optician's appointment too, so that you can rule out other visual difficulties which may be impacting.

mumoy · 07/09/2010 19:51

Thank you all information greatly appreciated :o

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