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New Treatment For Photosensitive Migraine

Posted on 3 November, 2014 at 4:00

Migraine has many triggers including stress, certain foods and hormones. Research has found 40% of migraine attacks may be visually induced by flickering light or ‘blue-light’ from LED’s including screens, tablets and smart phones; made worse when viewing high contrast patterns whilst reading.

Findings in the US by neuroscientists, using brain imaging showed that by suppressing ‘excitable’ areas of the visual cortex in the brain reduced visual migraine when precision-tinted lenses were worn in front of the eyes.

Lenses were prescribed using an Initiative Colorimeter that allows over 120 000 specific colour options. The same instrument is used in the treatment of Visual Stress which often results in movement of words when reading. Visual Stress is linked to ‘Dyslexia’ – a term often used to refer to reading problems that are not due to teaching. To have a colorimetry

For more information or to make an appointment if you suffer from Photosensitive Migraine or Visual Stress call Visual Answers Optometrists (Quorn) on (01509) 414151.

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How Colour Can Help Those With Visual Dyslexia

Posted on 21 October, 2014 at 20:25

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It has been scientifically proven by research and validated by both the Medical Council and the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) that the use of colour in the form of overlays or better still, with precision tinted lenses in glasses is able to make reading read easier in over 50% of individuals who suffer from Visual Dyslexia (also known as Meares-Irlen Syndrome or Visual Stress). These coloured tinted glasses for are made with the help of the Intuitive Colorimeter and help people with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties such as dyspraxia and ADHD..

The Intuitive Colorimeter utilises up to 7,000 different tints varied Hue and Saturation and provides up to 120 000 colour options to measure exactly which colour helps individuals the most.

Scientists do not know exactly how or why colour works but the most common theory is that the area in the brain that controls vision (known as the visual cortex) is very sensitive in some people and some text may 'over-excite' the colour neurones resulting in text appearing distorted. It appears that the right prescion tinted coloured lenses, filter out light, helping to correct the problem and also reduce 'pattern glare' which regularly occurs in high contrast situations such as balck text on a white background.

Those who appear to benefit most from these lenses are those who find that words and letters tend to; be jumbled up, move around, wobble and appear in the wrong order. Some individuals with dyslexia and/or specific learning difficulties have most of the following symptoms others may only have one or two. Many students – particularly younger children do not always realise it is a problem as they have always seen writing in the same way.

Research has shown that if such an person uses coloured overlays their rate of reading can increase by up to 50% in some cases and they can experience fewer headaches too.

At Visual Answers Optometrists we provide eye examines for dyslexia that checks eye-tracking. Provide eye-exercises where necessary to improve the workings of both eyes together. We also carry out colour sensitivity testing and rate of reading tests and also provide full screening using the Intuitive Colorimeter

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A New Font To Help Dyslexia

Posted on 21 October, 2014 at 19:56

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This interesting typeface called 'Dyslexie' is now available for users and can be downloaded for free here.

An inexpensive new App designed by Gareth Reid, a 15 year old dyslexic student from Northen Ireland can be used to convert normal text into a font style proven to make reading easier in dyslexia now available.

Dyslexia Awareness Week

Posted on 12 October, 2014 at 11:30

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To help raise awareness during Dyslexia Awareness Week starting in November Visual Answers Optometrists have put together a Dyslexia fact-sheet to provide information about the relationship between Dyslexia and vision.

Our lead Optometrist Mohammed Bhojani is specially trained and experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of visual problems associated with learning difficulties, visual processing, visual stress, Meares-Irlen Syndrome and Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Discalculi, AD(H)D and Autistic Spectral Disorders and has helped many children, students and adults over the last 20 years.

Should you require any further information, or have any concerns about someone you know who may benefit from a specialist eye examination in relation to vision and learning difficulties please contact us on (01509) 414151.

For more information about dyslexia and ‘National Dyslexia Awareness Week’ you can visit the British Association of Dyslexia website at www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Key Facts About Dyslexia and Vision

Dyslexia is a common problem
Dyslexia is one of the most common learning difficulties, estimated to affect around 2 in 20 in England. Dyslexia is perhaps up to 3x more common in boys and a dyslexic tendency can run in families.
There's no connection between dyslexia and intelligence
A child with average intelligence and mild dyslexia will most likely be more skilled at reading than a child with high intelligence and severe dyslexia.
It’s not just about mixing up your ‘b’s’ with your ‘d’s’
Whilst this will be a problem with many with dyslexia, the most common manifestation is difficulty recognizing words, but poor oral reading characterized by substitutions, omissions, additions and reversal of sounds, letters, syllables or full words, is also common amongst most.
Vision plays an important part in reading and learning
First of all children must have crisp, sharp eyesight in order to see the print clearly. Unfortunately, this is all a basic vision screening is designed to check, and children's vision involves so much more. For success in school, children must also be able to coordinate their eye movements as a team. They must be able to follow a line of print without losing their place. They must be able to maintain clear focus as they read or make quick focusing changes when looking up to the board and back to their desks. And, they must be able to interpret and accurately process what they are seeing. If children have inadequate visual skills in any of these areas, they can experience great difficulty in school, especially in reading.
Slow visual processing is common in dyslexia
Studies have shown that poor visual processing plays a significant role in a large majority of people who struggle to read. Several studies have shown those with Dyslexia process visual information more slowly than other children.
An eye examination can play a vital part in diagnosing and treating specific visual problems associated with dyslexia
A specialised examination by a behavioral optometrist trained to diagnose and treat visual problems associated with specific learning difficulties, can determine if special vision based therapies can help a child’s struggle with reading. For instance up to 10% of children can be helped by eye exercises the improve binocular stability and eye-tracking and a large proportion by the use of coloured overlays and and coloured glasses with precision-tinted lenses.
Visual Stress is often found in people with dyslexia
Visual Stress, sometimes called Meares-Irlen syndrome or Scotopic Sensitivity syndrome, is often manifested as distortion, flickering or wobbling of print that persists even when any conventional optical problem is corrected. The cause of this is believed to be pattern glare. In Visual Stress, these symptoms can be stopped or reduced by the use of coloured spectacle lenses. Visual Stress can occur with and without dyslexia or a learning difficulty.
A very specific colour can make a big difference
There is scientific evidence confirmed by research from the Medical Council the that coloured lenses can improve reading speed and comprehension, when there is Visual Stress, but the very best colour is individual and needs to be selected with precision for each person. This can be done with a colour sensitivity test using a specialised instrument called an Intuitive Colorimeter that can produce over 120 000 precise optimal coloured lens combinations for help with Meares-Irlen Syndrome

Reduce Eyestrain And Headaches Using New Spectacle Lenses Using 'Pinhole' Technology

Posted on 11 October, 2014 at 11:17

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A new ophthalmic lens designed to reduce light scatter using 'pinhole' technology has been found to improve clarity, comfort and reduce visual stress according to the recent findings.

For more information visit our press release:

http://www.prlog.org/12376053-reduce-eyestrain-and-headaches-using-new-spectacle-lens-using-pinhole-technology.html

Help With Visual Stress, Reading & Dyslexia Symptoms

Eye Tests And Treatments For Visual Stress & Irlen Syndrome in Loughborough