Dyslexia Clinic -
Are you having problems reading? You could have visual stress or dyslexia. It’s important to realise that they’re not the same thing and visual stress is often misdiagnosed as dyslexia. You can have visual stress and not have dyslexia, however visual stress is more common in people who are dyslexic.
What Are The Symptoms Of Visual Stress?
Depending on whether you have non-dyslexic visual stress or dyslexia-related visual stress, here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing:
Non-Dyslexia Visual Stress
- Text seems to move about the page
- Blurring of print, which may go out of focus
- Headaches or visual discomfort from reading
- Red, sore, watery eyes
- Tiring easily when reading
- Patterns in print (sometimes described as rivers or worms)
- Letters changing in size or shape
Dyslexia-Related Visual Stress
- Move closer to or further away from the book
- Move the book around the table
- Fidget continuously
- Use a ruler or finger as a marker on the page
- Skip words or lines
- Frequently re-read the same line
- Rub eyes or blinks frequently when reading
- Words or letters which break into two and appear as double
- Letters may appear and disappear
- Find it easier to read large, widely spaced print than small crowded print
Many dyslexic people are sensitive to the glare of white background on a page, white board or computer screen, which makes reading even harder.
What Should I Do?
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or are having difficulty reading at school, you need to book an eye test appointment with one of our opticians.
Can You Treat Visual Stress?
Yes. The use of coloured backgrounds, overlays and precision tinted lenses can help relieve the symptoms. Those with reading difficulties may sometimes have a weakness in eye coordination or focusing. An eye test can determine this and we can treat the condition with eye exercises or glasses.
