Meares-Irlen Syndrome

Meares-Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual processing disorder that affects how the brain processes visual information, causing symptoms of visual stress including pattern glare, perceptual distortions, eye strain, headaches, and discomfort when reading. Unlike dyslexia, it is not a language-based disorder, but it is frequently comorbid with dyslexia — estimates range from 25% to 46% of individuals with dyslexia also having Meares-Irlen Syndrome. The condition is characterized by sensitivity to certain visual patterns, particularly high-contrast black text on white backgrounds. Symptoms can be alleviated through individually prescribed colored filters (overlays or tinted lenses) that modify the color spectrum reaching the eyes. Research has shown that using warm background colors such as peach, orange, and yellow on screens significantly improves reading performance for people with and without dyslexia, which may partly be explained by the prevalence of Meares-Irlen Syndrome.