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Irlen Spectral Filters or Irlen Lenses, are coloured overlay filters or tinted lenses crafted specifically for the wearer and worn as glasses or contact lenses. They are intended to help people with the supposed perceptual processing difficulty known as Irlen Syndrome, also known as Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome or visual stress. For individuals who suffer from Irlen Syndrome, the brain is sensitive to specific wavelengths of light, resulting in difficulties with print clarity and stability and discomfort when performing visually intensive activities such as reading. Irlen Syndrome affects approximately 50 percent of individuals with reading difficulties and dyslexia, 33 percent of those with attention difficulties such as ADHD, 33 percent with autism, up to 50 percent of those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, whiplash or concussion, and approximately 12-14 percent of the general population.[citation needed] Standardised diagnostic procedures have been developed to individualise the colour selection.[citation needed] Experts call the syndrome and the treatment controversial, because it is based on insufficient research.[1] However, current research on the topic includes placebo controls, longitudinal studies, and cutting-edge brain mapping technology, all of which support the use of color to alleviate the symptoms associated with Irlen Syndrome.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome

Scotopic sensitivity syndrome, also known as the Irlen Syndrome', is said to be a visual-perceptual defect related to difficulties with light source, glare, luminance, wavelength and black/white contrast. According to Irlen, these difficulties lead to reading problems, eye-strain, headaches, migraines, and other physical difficulties that can be alleviated by the use of person specific tinted lenses, known as Irlen Spectral Filters, worn as glasses or contact lenses.

The syndrome has six characteristics:

  1. photophobia
  2. eye strain
  3. poor visual resolution
  4. a reduced span of focus
  5. impaired depth perception
  6. poor sustained focus

The scotopic sensitivity syndrome is diagnosed by interviewing the client and by observing responses to certain visual tasks such as interpreting geometric figures and reading.[9]

History and research

The idea of page based distortion was initially suggested in 1980 by Olive Meares,[10] to improve the reading ability of people with a learning disability, specifically a certain type of dyslexia. Later this was taken further by psychologist Helen Irlen. The proposition by Irlen was made at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association in 1983. At that time, there was little research made on the effect of tinted lenses. Irlen gained notable publicity demonstrating the efficacy of her method on television. Tinted lenses became a commercial success, and testing and prescribing centers were opened throughout USA.[11]

Diagnosis of Irlen Syndrome and treatment with Irlen Spectral Filters has been reviewed by the USA Medical Board,[which?] and has been determined as not the practice of medicine; it has also been reviewed by various USA Boards of Optometry[which?] and has been found not to be the practice of optometry. Binocular and accommodative anomalies may occur in conjunction with the syndrome, but are not considered to be the underlying physiological basis of the condition.[12][13]

Other purposes

According to Irlen, the lenses can be used to treat a wide variety of problems that are associated with light sensitivity, discomfort and distortions, including head injury, concussion, whiplash, perceptual problems, neurologic impairment, memory loss, language deficits, headaches and migraine, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, macular degeneration, cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa, complications from an eye operation, depression, chronic anxiety and others.[1] She has also claimed that a treatment for scotopic sensitivity syndrome could help a number of incarcerated individuals and delinquent children.[1] It is suspicious that the treatment quickly came to be applied to a wide variety of maladies, suggesting that this treatment is an example of classic group behavior.[1]

Criticism

The Irlen method has been criticised for being put to the market prior to serious research.[1] According to Helveston, the scotopic sensitivity syndrome and its treatment has, as a phenomenon, resulted in classic group behaviour and has the characteristics of a fad with a charismatic personality as a leader and the supporting evidence being mostly anecdotal.[1] A 2004 study by Professor Arnold Wilkins at Essex University, though, shows that this may not be the case.[citation needed] The syndrome is, however, associated with a growing array of possibly diverse conditions, as well as worldwide franchise according to critics.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Helveston, Eugene M. (2004). "Tinted Lenses" (PDF). IDA Information Packet: 12–13.
  2. ^ Chouinard BD, Zhou CI, Hrybouski S, Kim ES, Cummine J (July 2012). "A functional neuroimaging case study of Meares-Irlen syndrome/visual stress (MISViS)". Brain Topogr. 25 (3): 293–307. doi:10.1007/s10548-011-0212-z. PMID 22124535.
  3. ^ Huang J, Zong X, Wilkins A, Jenkins B, Bozoki A, Cao Y (June 2011). "fMRI evidence that precision ophthalmic tints reduce cortical hyperactivation in migraine". Cephalalgia. 31 (8): 925–36. doi:10.1177/0333102411409076. PMC 3132147. PMID 21622479.
  4. ^ Noble, Jeanne; Orton, Michelle; Irlen, Sandra; Robinson, Greg (2004). "A controlled field study of the use of coloured overlays on reading achievement". Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities. 9 (2): 14–22. doi:10.1080/19404150409546760. ISSN 1324-8928.
  5. ^ Robinson GL, Foreman PJ (August 1999). "Scotopic sensitivity/Irlen syndrome and the use of coloured filters: a long-term placebo controlled and masked study of reading achievement and perception of ability". Percept Mot Skills. 89 (1): 83–113. doi:10.2466/pms.1999.89.1.83. PMID 10544403.
  6. ^ Whiting, P., Robinson, G.L., & Parrot, C.F. (1994). "Irlen coloured filters for reading: a six year follow up". Australian Journal of Remedial Education. 26: 13–19.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Wilkins, Arnold (2002). "Coloured overlays and their effects on reading speed: a review". Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics. 22 (5): 448–454. doi:10.1046/j.1475-1313.2002.00079.x. ISSN 0275-5408.
  8. ^ Wilkins AJ, Evans BJ, Brown JA, et al. (October 1994). "Double-masked placebo-controlled trial of precision spectral filters in children who use coloured overlays". Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 14 (4): 365–70. doi:10.1111/j.1475-1313.1994.tb00126.x. PMID 7845693.
  9. ^ "Testing & Treatment". Irlen Institute. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  10. ^ Meares, O. (1980). Figure/ground, brightness contrast and reading disabilities. Visible Lang. 14, 13-29
  11. ^ Silver, Larry B. (2004). "Theme editor's note" (PDF). IDA Information Packet: 12.
  12. ^ Evans BJ, Patel R, Wilkins AJ, et al. (November 1999). "A review of the management of 323 consecutive patients seen in a specific learning difficulties clinic". Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 19 (6): 454–66. doi:10.1111/j.1475-1313.1999.00465.x. PMID 10768028.
  13. ^ Scott L, McWhinnie H, Taylor L, et al. (March 2002). "Coloured overlays in schools: orthoptic and optometric findings". Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 22 (2): 156–65. doi:10.1046/j.1475-1313.2002.00009.x. PMID 12014489.
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