J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2010 Dec;51(12):1639-1642.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Dyslexia in Korea : Correlation With Meares-Irlen Syndrome

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea. ansaneye@hanmail.net

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the main symptoms and associated ocular diseases in patients with dyslexia (reading difficulty) in Korean subjects.
METHODS
A total of 16 patients were enrolled in the present study. Eleven of the patients with Meares-Irlen syndrome whose symptoms improved with tinted lenses comprised Group 1. The other 5 patients whose reading difficulty improved with other ocular therapy and did not require tinted lenses comprised Group 2. The main symptoms causing dyslexia and associated ocular diseases were evaluated.
RESULTS
The mean age was 18.9 +/- 8.9 years in Group 1, and 20.4 +/- 12.3 years in Group 2. In Group 1, the most common symptoms while reading were doubling (72%), difficulty to move lines (46%), letter reversal (27%) and blurring or ocular pain (27%). On the other hand, blurring (100%) with fatigue or pain (20%) was documented in Group 2. The associated ocular diseases in Group 1 and Group 2 were refractive error (63% and 20%), dry eye (18% and 60%), and exophoria (18% and 60%), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Doubling and difficulty to move lines while reading were the main specific symptoms in Meares-Irlen syndrome in the present study. Refractive error, dry eye, and exophoria were commonly associated in patients with dyslexia.

Keyword

Associated ocular disease; Dyslexia; Meares-Irlen syndrome

MeSH Terms

Dyslexia
Exotropia
Eye
Fatigue
Hand
Humans
Korea
Refractive Errors

Reference

References

1. Irlen H, Lass MJ. Improving reading problems due to symptoms of scotopic sensitivity syndrome using Irlen lenses and overlays. Education. 1989; 109:413–7.
2. Evans BJ. The need for optometric investigation in suspected Meares-Irlen syndrome or visual stress. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2005; 25:363–70.
Article
3. Chase C, Ashourzadeh A, Kelly C, et al. Can the magnocellular pathway read? Evidence from studies of color. Vision Res. 2003; 43:1211–22.
Article
4. Helveston EM. Scotopic sensitivity syndrome. Arch Ophthalmol. 1990; 108:1232–3.
Article
5. Livingstone MS, Rosen GD, Drislane FW, et al. Physiological and anatomical evidence for a magnocelluar defect in developmental dyslexia. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1991; 88:7943–7.
6. Stein J. The magnocelluar theory of developmental dyslexia. Dyslexia. 2001; 7:12–36.
7. Nandakumar K, Leat SJ. Dyslexia: a review of two theories. Clin Exp Optom. 2008; 91:333–40.
Article
8. Liberman IY, Shankweiler D, Orlando C, et al. Letter confusions and reversals of sequence in the beginning reader: implications for Orton's theory of developmental dyslexia. Cortex. 1971; 7:127–42.
9. Fluss J, Ziegler J, Ecalle J, et al. Prevalence of reading disabilities in early elementary school: impact of socioeconomic environment on reading development in 3 different educational zones. Arch Pediatr. 2008; 15:1049–57.
10. Skottun BC, Skoyles J. Dyslexia: sensory deficits or inattention? Perception. 2007; 36:1084–8.
Article
11. Skottun BC, Skoyles JR. Attention, reading and dyslexia. Clin Exp Optom. 2006; 89:241–5.
Article
Full Text Links
  • JKOS
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr