J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2012 Mar;53(3):452-459.

The Effect of Colored Filters in Patients with Meares-Irlen Syndrome

• Park SH
• Kim SH
• Cho YA
• Joo CK

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the benefit of colored filters in Meares-Irlen Syndrome patients with reading difficulties.
METHODS
Twenty-five patients were selected through a brief questionnaire aimed to determine symptoms of eyestrain or visual distortion after thorough eye examinations. The cutoff value of the questionnaire was 2.13. The rates of Korean reading and writing were measured using the RWSM (Reading Writing Speed Meter) test with and without the use of colored filters. Two months after wearing the individually prescribed colored filters, a questionnaire on the patient's subjective satisfaction with the colored filters were completed and evaluated.
RESULTS
The blue (n = 8, 32%) and gray (n = 4, 16%) colors were the most frequently selected filters. The mean score of the questionnaire on reading difficulties was 2.72. The mean reading rate improved from 82.72 wpm (words per minute) to 101.84 wpm with the colored filters, a statistically significant change (p = 0.019). The mean writing rate did not improve. The overall satisfaction score with the colored lenses was 3.6, with the highest score given to ease of reading (4.08) and the lowest to writing (2.92).
CONCLUSIONS
In cases of reading difficulty, colored filters were effective for alleviating visual symptoms and improving reading speed. It is important to achieve an adequate understanding of the specific symptoms of Meares-Irlen Syndrome and to perform a thorough eye examination to differentiate this from other ocular disorders.

Keyword

Colored filters; Dyslexia; Meares-Irlen syndrome; Reading difficulties; Reading speed

MeSH Terms

Asthenopia
Dyslexia
Eye
Humans
Surveys and Questionnaires
Writing

Figure

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  Figure 1 Distribution of the color lenses.

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  Figure 2 The mean change of reading rate and writing after wearing the coloured filters. The mean reading rate improved with the coloured filters from 82.72 wpm (words per minute) to 101.84 wpm, which was statistically significant (p = 0.019).

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  Figure 3 Differential plot showing the effect of coloured filters on rate of reading. The vertical axis shows the difference in rate of reading (words per minute, wpm) which was obtained by subtracting the rate of reading without the filter from that with the filter.

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  Figure 4 The subjective satisfaction questionnaire scores after wearing the coloured filter for 2 months. Score 0: not satisfied, Score 1: neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, Score 2: mildly satisfied, Score 3: moderately satisfied, Score 4: much satisfied, Score 5: very satisfied.

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  Figure 5 The distribution of satisfaction scores on reading and writing after wearing the coloured filters for 2 months. Score 0: not satisfied, Score 1: neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, Score 2: mildly satisfied, Score 3: moderately satisfied, Score 4: much satisfied, Score 5: very satisfied.

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