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

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.