Introduction

Over the coming weeks to months I hope that this blog will become a useful resource for those who wish to question the claims made by those offering treatments for so called visual stress to ameliorate a wide range of disparate conditions. These include dyslexia, autism, ADHD, visual problems associated with multiple sclerosis and stroke, recidivism, chronic fatigue and migraine.

Visual stress otherwise known as Meares-Irlen syndrome, MISVis , Irlen Syndrome^® and, inexplicably, as scotopic sensitivity syndrome, is treated with coloured lenses and overlays. According to it’s proponents the use of colour can reduce the perceptual distortions that are a part of this condition.

In future blogs I will be reviewing the key publications that are said to support this type treatment and how proponents (many with a financial interest) have distorted the evidence base to give the impression that this is a scientifically validated treatment. I hope you will keep visiting and provide some feedback – positive or negative. I fear that there will be a lot of the latter.

My background is in neuro-ophthalmology where I have published numerous papers in peer reviewed journals. I have become concerned about the exaggerated claims being made for the use of colour to treat visual stress in a wide variety of conditions and the misuse of what are at best speculative neuro-scientific theories.