Visual stress? Tinted glasses?

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I've just spent the evening at a seminar where a senior orthoptist described the work she has been doing, assessing their visual and other difficulties of a variety of children and evaluating the benefits of using spectacles, eye exercises, and tinted overlays and glasses. Some of the examples were very impressive, as was the frank admission that "We haven't got the answer to everything".

It was said that a hypothesis of hyperactivity in neural processing, not solely confined to the visual cortex, is now getting some confirmation in fMRI studies, and that reduced activity found on providing the individually correct coloured filters can markedly reduce visual stress, and even other symptoms.
(a case where a Parkinson's patient's marked tremours subsided was attested by three practitioners present).
Other conditions within the remit included dyslexia, dyspraxia, migraines, AS, autism, ADD-HD, MS and ME.
Of these it was found that, migraine was the most, and dyslexia the least, likely to benefit from coloured lenses.

I've tended to be sceptical of the Meares-Irlen "scotopic sensitivity" syndrome, for a variety of reasons, not least having encountered very mixed tales of success and failure. Should I be doing some rethinking?

What experiences have people here had of
A) visual stress or difficulty?
(print that moves or is blotchy or coloured, strange effects with striped figures, closework being tiring or painful..)
B) if so, have tinted lenses been tried: to good, partial or no effect?

I chose what was behind door number 2, although I was often called upon in school or church to read aloud, because my diction was very clear and my voice carried well.

For awhile in the late 70's/early 80's I wore pilot style framed glasses with what were called cosmolite gradient lenses, much like Steve Hyde on "That 70's Show". (in fact my wife jokes that his character is based on me). The top of the lenses had a fairly dark brown tint, fading to almost clear at the bottom. I actually had two pair of the same style one of which I lost while swimming in the Rio Grande. I had to drive home with my buddy's gorlfriend's glasses on and they were outrageously feminine making me quite the spectacle with her spectacles.

Speaking of glasses, a lady friend entered a local coffee house with new frames and with an all-too-out-of-control voice, I loudly exclaimed, "Hey, (her name)! I love your testicles!" I meant to say spectacles, but it was too late and everyone turned to stare at me.

Holy Guacamole!

I have worn glasses since 5th grade and have no desire to wear contacts or get radial keritotomy.

Sometimes I can detect visual patterns in the way the grass grows. (Saint Augustine or Centepaede Grass, not Bermuda).

I have worn glasses since age 10 and have become progressively blind since (slight exageration). I also have an astigmatism in my left eye and my left eye on the whole is incredibly weak compared to my right, and the astigmatism as well as just general weakness can make reading difficult. There are times my left eye will unfocus (blur) while I just look with my right. I got my newest precription glasses almost exactly one year ago and I'm already noticing that I need my lenses updated. Most likely for my left eye.

As for visual processing sensitivity, I've noticed a sensitivity to whiter-looking purer light. I prefer rooms to have more of a yellow light to them otherwise it feels too visually bright as well as psychologically uncomfortable. I am also sensitive to the visual layout of the environment: symmetry and sparseness to me is alarming-- though I don't know how much this has to do with the thread topic. I wonder if this isn't more of a personal preference/eccentricity-- something not related directly to the visual processing system but to anxiety related to the interpretation of that information.

But I don't know very much about scotopic sensitivity. I would suspect I would be very annoyed by not seeing the full range of colors-- though I could do with less brightness of those colors at times.

My left eye isn't too far from being legally blind, but my right is almost normal. I normally don't wear glasses, only for screens. TV screens, computer screens, etc. Oh, and driving.

Vision is my worst sence - and it is totally stress related - some days I can see just fine and other days I can't hardly see at all - I didn't realize until recently that other people see in 3D - I had figured it was a theory not something people actually experienced (shortly after this came the realization that I and other people are 3D - which cleared up the distressing problem I'd had of not being able to sew clothes . . .)
I have problems with light - a white wall looked at too long will make me unable to see anything else - it is like having a flash flashed in your eyes . . . I nearly always have shadows and swirlies in my vision - like right now there are stripes of shadows across the computer screen . . .
I have trouble with driving (I know, you are thinking - no kidding!) especially at night - because the headlights both blind me and make it hard for me to look at anything else . . . If I get really stressed everything looks like someone is shining a flashlight in my face all the time . . . especially when I'm in a group of people . . .
I also seem to have better perepheral vision than streight ahead vision which makes me look at people like a bird . . . oh - and stars around any lights (like streetlights, lights in the ceiling) etc . . .
This may be more of a body image thing - but I always feel like I'm looking at the world through about a 2 inch panel of glass . . .

I find it really interesting that up until the time that I went to an eye doctor who thought I just had a minor astigmitism and gave me reading glasses (this was before I knew I had AS) I wore blue or purple or dark green sunglasses all the time because they made things look normal . . .
So it was no surprise when I started looking into Irlen stuff that blue works the best for me . . . I have a light blue pair of glasses (with the script for my astigmitism) that I wear all the time then a dark blue pair that are usually sunglasses but are always worn when grocery shopping or dealing with people . . .
I did go through the Irlen process, but, honestly, didn't find it worth the money - I think if you read the scototipic sensistity book and then play around with the tints yourself - maybe buy their filter pages - you can save a bunch of money and figure out your color yourself . . .
But, yeah, sometimes I can see in 3D now - which is quite a trip . . .

I voted number 3 - that pretty much hits the nail on the head. In addition to AS, I get migraines, which effect my vision pretty acutely. I don't use tinted glasses indoors much because they drive me crazy, but I have tried uses them before for my migraines and yeah they did help. Right now I try to wear dark, polarized sunglasses outside as much as possible, which does seem to make a big difference in preventing migraines and eye fatigue.

I spent years complaining to eye doctors about how my eyes seems to get tired very easily, that I seem hypersensitive to light in general (and more so when migrainy) and I have trouble reading even with the right prescription glasses (the words would flicker or jump about after a short ie of reading). They'd just check out my eyes and say they looked fine. My prescription hasn't even changed in 10 years (I am near0sighted, and my right eye is 50% more nearsighted than my left).

Once I started thinking if it as a neurological issue, and perhaps neurological fatigue, I was able to better pinpoint offending triggers that seem to make it worse. Among them I've found (for me) certain kinds of lighting, any kind of alcohol, diet, high blood pressure and high blood sugar all make my eye problems and migraines worse.

Another thing that seems to help, and I'm nto sure why, is my latest pair of glasses. The lenses kind of wrap around my face slightly more than my last pair. That curvature drove me crazy the first week I had them. I had bad migraines teh first few days, and i thought I was going to have to take them back. But then I got used to them, and found my eye fatigue has been better. For example, befor I got those glasses, I couldn't spent much time at this site because the color scheme madee me eyes hurt so bad. Now, with these curved lenses, it's a lot better. Go fig.

This happens when the "fusion" between the eyes isn't working correctly. This is also called "eye teaming" or binocular vision. If you hav, historicaly only seen an optometrist, I would highly suggest seeing an opthomologist, and if you can, a developmental opthomologist.
You may need your current prescription, plus have your glasses modified to help take the eye strain from your eyes trying to work together. (typicaly they add prisms)

A regular optometrist does not check this, they just check your "sight" opthomologists check your vision.

My vision isn't great, but I'm far from being blind. Even without my glasses, I can still see pretty well. I've worn tinted glasses on and off for the past 10 years or so, but only certain colours (blue and/or grey) work for me. Anything pink or tan makes it worse.

My eyes are OK, but I wear reading glasses to prevent eye-strain. I sometimes get eye-strain anyway when I've been spending a long time reading or on the computer (like now...). It gives me headaches, nausea and blurry vision. I have to lie down quietly in a darkened room with my eyes shut. Of course I seldom do this because I get bored not reading and I'd rather have a headache than be bored.

the tinted overlays do help for reading. when i was working in title one (federal program in the school systems), i was given a few of them. i couldn't believe the difference they made when reading. at that point i wasn't wearing glasses all the time, and the difference was astounding. i used them with some of the kids who had vision problems. i'm not for sure why they work, but they do.

as to my vision, the worst part is that the muscles in my eyes are weak and they don't focus together. this may be from the starvation/lack of stimulation as an infant. i have other problems, but that is by far the worst. i now have to wear glasses all the time. i compensated for it as long as i could, but i can't any more.

i do have a lot of sensitivity to light. i would like to have a slight tint in my glasses, but medicaid doesn't pay for it. next time i go, i might see how much that would cost and see if i can do it anyway.
april

At work we have a classic seaside postcard showing two disturbed receptionists at an optician's
one saying to the elderly gentleman who has just dropped his trousers:
""No, Mr Williams! I said can you show us your old worn SPECTACLES!"

Texture glare *is* another visual stress effect, found where background or detail disturbs the recognition of larger elements. The leaves swallowing up the trees.

Base curve sensitivities do crop up from time to time...
When very large frames come into fashion, "flatter" lenses are needed to avoid a goggle-eyed look, and this happens irrespective of the optically ideal shape. Currently, the fashion for the "wrapped sunglass" look is pushing out beyond the optimal the other way. Most people are reasonably tolerant to the compromises required, but sometimes odd effects occur.

Engineers just quietly, curse, weep, and do their best to make things work despite the stupid dictates of fashion.

I'm afraid it's not quite as simple as that, quietangel, though some what you say is in quite possible. In the UK optometrists (Official title: Ophthalmic Opticians) are the people for this, as ophthalmologists are principally concerned with eye disease and surgery. And yes, some ARE better informed than others. I'm not up on the US professional divide.

It could be poor fusion but that is, strictly, separate from difficulty aligning the eyes or maintaining stable focus. These do need to be checked before the upstart new kid on the block, visual stress and the use of specific coloured tints, is considered.
Refraction, reading additions, exercises, prisms... all possible therapies before, or in addition to, tints.

In the UK any optometrist that didn't include binocular checks in an examination would be acting unprofessionally to a culpable extent. I'm not saying it never happens.

To All...

This definitely seems to have touched a spot for a good proportion of us, if not for all.

I'd like to communicate some of this to yesterday's speaker. I could of course just invite her here to see this thread, but is there any objection to my using selected phrases in an e-mail to her?

I think the proportion of expressed difficulty might surprise her, even with this being a very self-selected sample.

The reason why I chimed in with what I did, was Ihave had annual eye exams for 18 years, plus specialized testing that never uncovered the fact that I have these disorders that have apparently plagued me from birth. I guess I was lucky to have been referred to a developmental Opthomologist or these things would have never been addressed.

I am not exaggerating when I say that Irlen lenses changed my life drastically for the better. I have had TERRIBLE light sensitivity all my life, and suffered frequent debilitating migraines ever since the age of nine. These were the full classical type - flashing lights and tunnel vision, parts of my vision just disappearing completely, my face and right hand go completely numb, I can't speak without slurring or mixing up words. Followed of course by an excruciating headache and severe nausea. Even without the migraines, I had an almost permenant headache from squinting. Certain patterns (for example, certain floor tiles) would seem like they were leaping out at me or flickering, and would make me feel sick and dizzy and even set me off balance if I was walking. Also, certain print would look like it was moving, and made it very hard for me to read. However, after trying prescription tinted lenses, the improvement for me was REMARKABLE. The migraines became FAR less frequent (I was having 4 or 5 per month, now I have 2 or 3 per year, if that), and I can go outside without squinting! Without my tinted lenses, it literally hurts my eyes to go outside, and those clashing colors make me feel dizzy and disoriented. But with the lenses, I can go outside, and patterns don't bother me. It was a true lifesaver. My life has been SO much easier since this discovery.