Visual Stress & Colorimetry Specialists in Bridge of Allan
Helping Children and Adults Improve Reading Speed and Discomfort
Reading shouldn't be a struggle. If you or your child experience headaches, "moving text," or glare when looking at a page, you may be experiencing Visual Stress. At Blink, we use advanced Colorimetry technology to identify the specific light frequencies that cause these symptoms and provide tailored solutions to make reading comfortable again.
What is visual stress (Meares-Irlen Syndrome)?
Visual stress is a neurological condition related to how the brain processes visual information which causes visual discomfort when reading or looking at printed materials. It can be triggered by high contrast of black text on a white background and is frequently experienced by individuals with Dyslexia.
Visual Stress symptoms are unique to every individual. While some people experience physical discomfort, others see significant distortions in the text itself. If you or your child recognise any of the following, a specialist assessment is recommended:
Visual Distortions of Text
Movement
Distortions
Patterns
Illusions of Colour
Physical Discomfort & Fatigue
Headaches & migraines: specifically during or after a period of reading or screen work.
Eye strain - Feeling a “pulling“ sensation or soreness in the eyes.
Rapid Tiring - Becoming exhausted quickly when concentrating on printed materials.
Light sensitivity - Feeling overwhelmed by the glare from white paper or brigh fluorescent office lighting.
Behavioural Signs to Watch For
Frequently losing your place or skipping lines while reading.
Needing to use a finger or a ruler to track text.
Rubbing eyes or blinking excessively.
Avoiding reading or close-up tasks altogether.
The Visual Stress Journey at Blink
We follow a rigorous, step-by-step clinical process to ensure we provide the most effective solution for your visual comfort.
Step 1: Comprehensive Eye Examination
Before testing for Visual Stress, we always begin with a full sight test. This allows us to assess your overall eye health and vision to ensure there are no underlying issues, such as a simple need for reading glasses or an eye coordination problem, that could be causing your symptoms.
Step 2: Initial Visual Stress Assessment
Once we’ve confirmed your eyes are healthy, we carry out a specialised Visual Stress screening. This involves a series of tests to determine if your brain is experiencing "hyperexcitability" when viewing high-contrast patterns and text.
Step 3: Intuitive Colorimeter Assessment
If Visual Stress is identified, we move to the Intuitive Colorimeter. This advanced technology allows us to systematically scan through thousands of subtle colour combinations. We work with you to pinpoint the exact hue, saturation, and brightness that "calms" the text on the page.
Step 4: Efficacy & Samples
Once an optimal colour is found, we provide a sample of that specific colour and perform further diagnostic tests to measure its efficacy. We want to see a measurable improvement in reading speed, comfort, and clarity before moving forward.
Step 5: Precision Tinted Lenses
Based on the successful outcome of your assessments, we will advise on Precision Tinted Lenses. These custom-made lenses are tinted to your specific colorimetry profile, providing you with a wearable solution that can be used for school, work, and daily life.
Coloured overlays
Coloured overlays are transparent, tinted plastic sheets which are placed directly over printed text or digital screens. They provide an immediate and non-invasive way to assess how light frequencies affect your reading ability.
How Coloured Overlays Work
The white glare from a standard page can create a "high-frequency contrast" that overstimulates the visual cortex in the brain. For individuals with Visual Stress, this results in the text appearing to move or blur.
By selectively filtering the light, overlays help to:
“Calm“ the visual cortex - reducing the amount of high-frequency light that enters the eye helps the brain process visual information more efficiently.
Reduce cognitive load - because the brain doesn't have to work as hard to stabilise the text, reading becomes significantly less taxing on the visual system.
The Benefits of Overlay Testing at Blink
Individualised Testing - We provide a wide spectrum of colours to find the specific hue that works for your unique visual system
Immediate Relief - Many patients notice an instant improvement in reading comfort, clarity and speed during the assessment.
Versatile Solution - Overlays are a simple, portable tool that can be used for schoolwork, books or office documents.
Precision tinted lenses
Precision Tinted Lenses are custom-engineered to alleviate Visual Stress by "quieting" the visual cortex. These lenses are designed to selectively filter out the specific wavelengths of light that cause neurological hyperexcitability. By reducing this over-stimulation, the lenses effectively eliminate the visual distortions and glare that make reading and screen work difficult.
The Intuitive Colorimeter - To find your perfect solution, we use the Intuitive Colorimeter, a specialist medical instrument that allows us to explore over 10,000 color combinations. By independently adjusting hue, saturation, and brightness, we scientifically pinpoint the optimal tint that maximizes your reading speed and comfort. Once identified, this unique colorimetry profile is used to create bespoke lenses tailored to your specific needs.
Practical for Daily Life - Precision Tinted Lenses offer constant relief from harsh fluorescent lighting, whiteboards, and digital screens, making them an ideal long-term solution for students and professionals. These tints can be applied to any prescription - including distance or varifocal lenses - to significantly reduce headaches, eye strain, and visual fatigue..
Treating Visual Stress can be life-changing, out patients often often experience a dramatic increase in reading fluency and a newfound confidence in the classroom or workplace. However, it's important to note that both overlays and precision tinted lenses are tools for managing symptoms rather than a permanent a cure for visual stress.
Because this is a specialised clinical service, Visual Stress assessments and Colorimetry are not covered by the NHS. At Blink, we are proud to offer this expert care to the Stirling community, and we are always happy to discuss the process and any associated fees before you begin your journey.
Ready to transform your reading experience? Book your combined eye examination and Visual Stress assessment today.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
No, but they often coexist. While Visual Stress is a processing issue that can be helped with colour, Dyslexia is a language-based learning difficulty. However, treating Visual Stress often makes the physical act of reading much easier for those with Dyslexia.
-
Yes. Many adults struggle with eyestrain and screen fatigue for years without realising it is Visual Stress. Precision tinted lenses can be a game-changer for office-based professionals.
-
As the visual system changes (especially in children), the optimal colour can shift. We recommend a colorimetry review every year or if symptoms begin to return.
-
No, the specialised Visual Stress assessment and Colorimetry are private clinical services and are not covered by the NHS.
While your initial eye examination is fully funded by the NHS in Scotland, the further diagnostic testing for Visual Stress, including the use of the Intuitive Colorimeter and the fitting of precision tinted lenses, requires specialised equipment and additional clinical time.
At Blink, we believe in transparency regarding our fees. We will always discuss the costs of the assessment and any subsequent overlays or tinted lenses with you before we begin the process.