Irlen syndrome: systematic review and level of evidence analysis

Síndrome de Irlen: revisão sistemática e análise do nível de evidência

ABSTRACT

Background:  Scotopic sensitivity syndrome, later called Meares-Irlen syndrome or simply Irlen syndrome (IS) has been described as symptoms of poor reading ability due to poor color matching and distorted graphic images. Individuals with this syndrome are considered slow, ineffective readers with low comprehension and visual fatigue. It is still uncertain whether the disease pathophysiology is an independent entity or part of the dyslexia spectrum. Nevertheless, treatments with lenses and colored filters have been proposed to alleviate the effect of the luminous contrast and improve patients’ reading performance. However, no evidence of treatment effectiveness has been achieved.

Objective:  The aim of the present study was to obtain evidence about IS etiology, diagnosis and intervention efficacy.

Methods:  A systematic review was performed covering the available studies on IS, assessing the available data according to their level of evidence, focusing on diagnostic tools, proposed interventions and related outcomes.

Results:  The data showed high heterogeneity among studies, and lack of evidence on the existence of IS and treatment effectiveness.

Conclusion:  The syndrome as described, as well as its treatments, require further strong evidence.

Keywords: Reading disorders; systematic review; evidence-based medicine; meares-irlen syndrome; colored lenses

RESUMO

Background:  A síndrome da sensibilidade escotópica, posteriormente denominada síndrome de Meares-Irlen ou simplesmente síndrome de Irlen (SI), foi descrita como indivíduos com sintomas de baixa capacidade de leitura devido à combinação de cores e distorções nas imagens. Indivíduos com essa síndrome podem apresentar leitura lenta e ineficaz, com baixo nível de compreensão e fadiga visual. A fisiopatologia da doença ainda é incerta como uma entidade independente ou como parte do espectro da dislexia. No entanto, tratamentos com lentes e filtros coloridos foram propostos com o objetivo de aliviar o efeito do contraste luminoso e melhorar o desempenho de leitura dos pacientes. Outrossim, nenhuma evidência de eficácia do tratamento foi alcançada.

Objetivos:  Obter evidências sobre a etiologia, eficácia diagnóstica e intervenção da SI.

Métodos:  Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática, cobrindo os estudos disponíveis sobre a SI, avaliando os dados disponíveis de acordo com seu nível de evidência, com foco em ferramentas de diagnóstico, intervenções propostas e desfechos relacionados.

Resultados:  Os dados mostram alta heterogeneidade, falta de evidência sobre a existência da SI e eficácia do tratamento.

Conclusões:  A síndrome descrita e seus tratamentos exigem evidências mais robustas.

Palavras-chave: Transtorno da leitura; revisão sistemática; medicina baseada em evidência; síndrome de meares-irlen; lentes coloridas

The scotopic sensitivity syndrome was identified in 1980 by the clinical picture of complaints of perceptual dysfunction according to the light source, luminance, intensity, wavelength and color contrast¹. Subsequently, individuals with similar symptoms were also identified with reading difficulties due to poor adaptation to color contrasts (light and dark) and distorted graphic images. All these signs were labeled the Irlen syndrome (IS)².

This visual alteration was subdivided into six groups: people with photophobia (sensitivity to brightness); distortion of the fundus (difficulty of adaptation between contrasts such as light and dark); graphical distortions during reading (sensation of movement of the letters); decreased visual field (clear image in the center with peripheral cloudiness); difficulty in ocular fixation during reading; and change in depth perception². Studies have reported that the scotopic sensitivity syndrome, or IS, (and even Meares-Irlen syndrome), may result in a slow, ineffective and poorly comprehended ability to read, as well as causing fatigue and tension to the reader^3,4.

The pathophysiology of IS is claimed to be associated with changes in the visual cortex and deficits of the magnocellular system, which is important during reading, and for the acquisition of information from the visual system on movement^3,5,6. Some studies have claimed that IS has a genetic component and is related to specific biomarkers, affecting both sexes, and manifesting itself in different degrees of impairment^7,8.

Current treatment recommends the use of filters and colored lenses in order to reshape the light spectrum, reducing the contrast between light and dark to facilitate visual and retinal photoreceptor adaptation. According to the data at the time of publication, patients would be able to improve their comprehension of reading, attention, sensation of depth, fatigue symptoms, among others, by wearing these colored lenses^2,6. Despite these reports⁹, little data about the level of evidence for IS, or the treatments proposed by its advocates, are available. Finally, evidence for the IS itself and even the legitimacy of the therapeutic approach became questionable after the emergence of data regarding the effect of the lenses being indistinguishable from placebo¹⁰.

Thus, the objective of the present study was to carry out a systematic review, with wide coverage on IS existence, the use of colored lenses as a therapeutic approach and its effectiveness, evaluating the available data according to their level of evidence.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA¹¹ statement. Databases searched covered PubMed, Embase, PsycNET, ERIC, Cochrane, Clinical Trials, LILACS and ScieLO, without time span constraints. In order to achieve wider coverage, we first used (“irlen” OR “Irlen” OR “Irlen-Meares”) in PubMed and then “Irlen” as the unique search term for “All Fields”. The same strategy was performed for the other databases.

Selection of studies

Inclusion criteria: studies having an IS diagnosis; studies where colored lenses (or filters) were used as an intervention. Exclusion criteria: reviews; when IS was not the study subject; idiom that none of the authors could read; letters to the editor, comments or merely specialists’ point of view; non-peer reviewed articles, grey literature and unindexed or predatory journals.

Data extraction

Two investigators independently extracted data (EM, JSM). The following information was retrieved from the studies: first author's name, publication year, population characteristics (type, size, sex, age), the existence of a comparison group, study type, presence of sample size calculations, tools used for IS diagnosis, intervention (when possible), color filter wavelength measurement, study outcomes, reading rate modification observed, risk of bias, main conclusions and level of evidence.

Level of evidence

Retrieved articles were classified according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine's (OCEBM)¹² level of evidence. Three independent reviewers (JSM, RVGV, ESNG) determined the level of evidence classification individually. Although discrepancies were rare, the highest level of evidence was used on ties. Data extraction and summaries of data were performed by two independent groups of two reviewers (EM, JSM and RVGV, ESNG). Ties were dismissed by RW.

The OCEBM classification comprises five levels of evidence for each type of study target (treatment/prevention, prognosis, differential diagnosis and diagnosis/symptom prevalence study). Level I therapeutic studies comprise systematic reviews with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (Ia) and well-designed individual randomized clinical trials (Ib). Level II comprises systematic reviews of cohort studies (IIa), individual cohort studies, randomized clinical trials with less than 80% follow-up (IIb) and ecological studies (IIc). Level 3 comprises reviews of case-control (IIIa) and individual case-control (IIIb) studies. Level 4 covers case-control and low-quality cohort studies (absence of blinding or presence of biases and trend of results). Finally, level 5 consists of expert opinions, without critical evaluation, or based on physiology, database search or “first principles”.

In this classification, there is no inclusion of descriptive or opinion studies. Thus, we overestimated these types of works for level 5 in order to include them as potential sources of information. This adjustment was based on the World Health Organization criteria for the level of evidence¹³, however the OCEBM was the main instrument.

RESULTS

Systematic review and summary of evidence

There are no MeSH terms in PubMed for Irlen Syndrome, Meares-Irlen Syndrome or Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome; the Emtree^® suggests Irlen as a referred term, not an entry term, as does PsycNET and the Cochrane Database.

Figure 1 outlines our study selection process in a PRISMA flowchart¹¹.

Figure 1
Flow diagram of study selection according to the PRISMA statement.

The complete summary of findings is available as supplemental material due to space constraints. It was not possible to perform a meta-analysis due to great variations in study types, critical biases, extremely heterogeneous groups and generally low standards, as will be demonstrated below. Nevertheless, summarized data is shown in the Table. The main findings are presented in the Table, ordered by publication date.

Table
Summary of evidence (resumed version).

Reference	Population		Study type	Diagnostic tool	Intervention	Main findings	Level of evidence
	Population	Comparison group
O'Connor et al. 199014	92 Children	Non-scotopic	CC	IDPS NARA FRI	PCOF DCOF	More visual comfort. Gained reading rate. Filter improved reading.	3
Scheiman et al. 199015	Varied (age 10 to 49) n = 39	No control	CH	IDPS		More visual comfort. Gained reading rate. Filter improved reading.	4
Blaskey et al. 199016	Varied (age 9 to 51) 12 male; 18 female	Non-scotopic	CCH	IDPS	IF	Self-declared more comfort. No gain in reading. Irlen filter group showed no significant gains.	4
Robinson, Conway 199017	Varied (age 9 to 15) 33 males, 11 female	No control	CH	IDPS NARA SPAS	IF	Improvements on Irlen tests. No improvements on NARA and SPAS. Filter improved reading accuracy and comprehension, but not rate.	4
Martin et al. 199318	7th graders n = 60	Normal readers	CCH	LILP NARA RPM NWT	IL/COF	No difference among groups. No gain in reading. No improvement with IL/COF.	4
Carrol et al. 199419	Varied (age 10 to 20) n = 64	23 normal readers	CC	IDPS	Dark adaptation	No difference among groups. Inconclusive.	4
Evans et al. 199420	Varied (mean age 22; age 7 to 12) n = 82	11 normal readers	CC	PGT SRVST	COF	No difference with lenses. No differences in PGT among groups.	4
				NARA		Borderline significance supporting lenses.
Lopez et al. 199421	Varied (children) 39	15 with “academic problems”	CC	ISSST	PCOF	No difference in PCOF users. No difference in academic performance. More research needed.	4
Sawyer et al. 199422	Varied (age 7 to 15) n = 271	86 children without referred reading problems	CC	SRTa	PCOF	Differences inside the instrument variation. No improvement in reading. Very low effect; other refractive problems as the cause; more investigation needed.	4
Wilkins et al. 199423	Varied (age 9 to 15) n = 37	Children with reported failing in reading, with and without lenses.	PCT	ISSST NARA	Intuitive Colorimeter®	No differences on NARA and other symptoms evaluated. No gain in reading. Lenses ameliorate symptoms of IS.	2
Evans et al. 199524	Children aged 12 n = 42	26 nonresponsive to COF	CC	ISSST SRTb NARA PGT	Intuitive Colorimeter®	No differences on NARA or symptoms. No gain in reading. Suggests caution on data interpretation due to high similarity among case and control groups.	4
	Adult and children			Interview		No differences on WRAT-R.
Spafford et al. 199525	4 children, 4 adults	8 matched controls	CC	WRAT-R	COF	Lens color not critical for reading. Inconclusive; use of any unproven therapy could delay appropriate treatment.	4
Evans et al. 199626	Reports on sample from previous study (25)	Participants report failing in reading, with/ without lenses.	CC	ISSST PGT Optometrics	COF	No difference in pattern glare and IS. Ocular motor anomalies correlate to IS. Method psychophysically primitive; optometric anomalies are priority in treatment.	4
Ciuffreda et al. 199727	Adults (age 18 to 39) 2 males; 6 females	No	OB/CR	LILP	COF	No positive effect on steady-state accommodation. No improvement on accuracy; participants in fact needed other vision intervention.	4
Evans et al 199928	Varied (age 4 to 73) N=323	No	RP/EP	ISSST IO IC	PCOF	Patient perception of improvement. 73% still wearing tinted lenses 1,5 yrs after.	4
Robinson, Foreman 199929	Children (age 9 to 13) n = 113	35 controls with reading problems	PCT	ISSST/LILP NARA	IL	No difference among groups. No modification related to other groups. No improvements at all.	2
Robinson, Foreman 199930	Same as previous (32) n = 88	28 controls from previous study (32)	PCT	ISSST/LILP NARA	IL	Statistical difference among selected groups. Improvements on some tasks.	2
Robinson et al 200031	Varied (age 9 to 13) n = 158	125 referred 33 screening	PP	ISSST IS	-	84% of parents with IS No difference among groups Prevalence of symptoms on males	4
Bouldoukian et al. 200232	Varied (age 7 to 40) n = 33	With/without overlay	CC	IO WRRT	IO	Increased reading rate due to IO. Increased rate due to practice on same test. IO improved rate of reading. No placebo effect.	2
Evans, Joseph 200233	University students n = 113	13 participants without complaints	CC	IO WRRT	IO	More than 90% was 3,8% faster with IO. 21 participants stated that IO worsened perception. One-third of the sample shows benefit on reading (>5%) with colored lenses. Prevalence in adults equal in children.	4
Scott et al. 200234	Children (age 10 to 12) n = 94	63 without IS criterion	CC	IO, WRRT, LRT	IO	No difference among groups with and without IO. Supports the beneficial effects of IO.	4
	Children					No significant difference among groups; no increase in reading speed.
Northway, 200335	(age 9 to 15) n = 64	With/without lenses	OB/RP	IO, WRRT, DEM	IO	Improvement only on WRRT, not DEM. Visual symptomatic children found a preferred colored overlay of benefit.	4
Waldie, Wilkins, 200436	Children (age mean = 9.4) n = 23	-	OB	IO	IO	No significant difference among groups	4
Kriss, Evans, 200537	Children (age 7 to 12) n = 64 dyslexic	32 dyslexic; with / without IO	CC with 2x2 mixed factorial	IO, WRRT	IO	Control group w. higher scores in WRRT; 34% of dyslexic group up to 8% faster on WRRT with IO. IS affected normal readers. Although no significant difference in prevalence, more IS in dyslexic children.	4
Hollis, Allen, 200638	Adults (age 18 to 58) n = 58	-	OB/PP	IO WRRT PGT	IO	No benefit of IO for normal. Self reported symptom. Reading speed test recommended.	4
Riddel et al. 200639	Children (age 9 to 16) 10 (6 male; 4 female)	-	OB/CS	Previous IO users; VEP	IO	No significant differences among groups. No objective VEP differences can be measured in all children who claim benefit from the use of colored lenses.	4
Kruk et al. 200840	Children (age 9 to 10) n = 36	18 non-dyslexic	OB/PP	IRPS, LILP, WRAT	No intervention	No difference among normal readers and dyslexic. IS diagnosis was not an indicator of visual deficit subtype of dyslexia. No relationship between IS and reading performance.	4
	Children					NARA and SDMT improved in all groups.
	(age 7 to 11)					IDPS improved in placebo and experimental, and decreased in control.
Mitchell et al. 200810.	n = 49 (35 male, 14 female)	With/without lenses	PCT	IDPS, NARA, SDMT, IC	IO	No difference among placebo and experimental groups.	2
						Clear definition of visuoperceptual reading disabilities impaired the possible conclusion and experimental design.
Nichols et al. 200941	University students (mean age 23.4) n = 74 (7 male)	-	OB/PP	IO, WRRT, LADS	-	24% revealed IS. LADS occurred within IS. More research is needed.	4
	Adults					No improvement in reading.
Taub et al. 200942	N = 60	No referred symptoms of IS	OB/PP	Visagraph®	Colored lenses	No difference among groups. The IS symptoms were related to binocular/accommodative vision disorder.	4
Ritchie et al. 201143	Children (primary school) n = 75	-	OB/PP	LILT, WRRT, MMSE, GORT	IO	No gain in reading. No difference among groups for all tests. More orthoptic problem in IS group.	3
Vidal-López 201144	Secondary students (mean age 12) n = 54 (28 males)	27 paired individuals without IS	CC	PGT, IO, ISSST, PROLEC, SI, VS-SDT	IO	No differences with IO users. Attributional bias. Did not support the visual stress theory. Suggested strong motivational effects.	3
Ritchie et al. 201245	IS children (mean age 9) n = 18	10 non-IS	CC/CH (1yr)	WRRT, MMSE, GORT	IO	No difference among groups. No improvements with IO after 1yr. No benefits to reading. No effects in short or long term.	4
Chang et al. 201446	IS students (age 8 to 34) n = 34	11 dyslexic	CC	Not specified	IO Korea	Improvement needed on IS diagnosis. Lenses efficacy should be measured. Objectively testing for the syndrome. Further studies required.	4
Kim et al. 201547	Varied (age 13 to 41) n = 15	-	OB/PP	Self-reported IS	IO	Brain reacts different with and without lenses. Temporal regions activate after lenses.	4
Loew et al. 201548	Non-clinical samples (age 21 to 60) n = 24 (9 males, 15 females)	With/without lenses.	OB	Self-reported; WRRT; PROLEC; IO	Tinted lenses	No differences in reading speeds among participants with and without lenses. Fluorescent lighting can affect readers at all levels of proficiency.	4
Alanazi et al. 201649	Varied (age 18 to 30) n = 450	Female medical students	EP	Self-reported	Not defined	2% dyslexic 6% IS 33% dyslexic and IS	4
Garcia et al. 201750	Children (age 9 to 12) n = 68 (36 male, 32 female)	-	OB/PP	IRPS/OO, WRRT	ISOs	No significant gain in reading. 9 individuals reported 6% increase in reading speed on WRRT. Filters improved reading rate.	4

• IDPS: Irlen Differential Perceptual Schedule®, ISSST: Irlen Scotopic Sensitivity Screening Test®; IRPS: Irlen Reading Perceptual Scale®; IRPS/OO: IRPS Optimum Overlay®; ISOs: Irlen Spectral Overlays set®; LILP: Licensed Irlen Lens Practitioner; IO: Intuitive Overlays®; IC: Intuitive Colorimeter®; PGT: Pattern Glare Test; WRRG: Wilkins Rate of Reading Test; NARA: Neale Analysis of Reading Ability; SPAS: Students’ Perception of Ability Scale; FRI: Formal Reading Inventory; RPM: Raven's Progressive Matrices; NWT: Nonsense Word Test; SRVST: Simulated Reading Visual Search Test; SRTa: Salford Reading Test; SRTb: Suffolk Reading Test; WRAT-R: Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised; AIRA: Aston Index Reading Age; LRT: London Reading Test; DEM: Developmental Eye Movement test; VEP: Visual Evoked Potential; SDMT: Symbol Digit Modalities Test; Visagraph®; MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination; GORT: Gray Oral Reading Test; PROLEC®; SI: Stress Inductor; VS-SDT: Visual Stimuli based on Signal Detection Theory; DRT: Dyslexia Research Trust UK; COF: Colored Overlay Filters; PCOF: Preferred Colored Overlay Filter; DCOF: Different-Colored Overlay Filters; IF: Irlen Filters; IL/COF: Irlen Filters/Colored Overlay Filters; IO: Intuitive Overlays®; CC: Case-Control; RCT: Randomized Control Trial; PCT: Placebo Controlled Trial; NRCC: Non-Randomized Controlled Cohort; CH: Cohort; CCH: Controlled Cohort; OB: Observational study; PP: Prospective; RP: Retrospective; EP: Epidemiologic; CR: Case report; CS: Case series; PL: Previous use of Irlen (or colored) lenses; IIP: Irlen Institute Patient.

Summary

The interval time between all publications varied from 1989 to 2018. The sum of narrative reviews, letters, comments or responses comprised 44 articles, about one-third of all references regarding IS, which corroborates the controversy on the subject. The same proportion of original articles was retrieved for the summary (n = 45).

From the studies summarized, 21 were published in Ophthalmology or Optometry journals; and 27 studies were published in the same four journals. One author¹⁷ appears in 11 of the 45 studies; another one²³ appears in 10 and owns the property of several patents related to the diagnosis and intervention in IS; a third author appears in six studies.

The sum of all participants studied was 3,963 (mean/SD of 90.07 ± 132.8), with an irregular distribution between male and female participants, as well their ages or the presence of individuals with comorbidities, irregular distribution of methods, such as the absence of an ophthalmic or optometric evaluation in many cases, as well as other characteristics, revealing the heterogeneity. However, removing study participants from the strictly epidemiological articles reduced the main sample to 2,281 subjects (with mean/SD of 57.03 ± 47.87); five of these studies^{28,29,33,49,52} comprised a total of 1,682 participants (with mean/SD of 420.5 ± 250.7). Even with these adjustments, the whole sample remained heterogeneous.

Along with that, as three different studies^25,26,30 shared the same group of patients and part of the data, they could not be summed for effect size. It is worth noting that they shared other characteristics described in several parts in the published articles. Other studies^28–31 partially used the samples from the same group in the same location for slightly different analyses.

Study types were varied and, although some of them claimed a certain design, it is arguable whether they followed the mentioned design. Only two studies^44,45 provided sample size estimations in their design in order to find populational significance; 15 studies did not have proper control groups, ranging from undiagnosed or self-referred asymptomatic individuals, to the declared lack of control group where needed.

A large study on IS prevalence was performed with 450 participants, aged 18 to 30⁴⁹, all female, and the authors did not perform any of the procedures for IS detection. Instead, a survey was spread among a nonrandomized population. Another large prevalence study⁵¹ comprised 486 males and 265 females from ages 7 to 17; yet another²⁸, analyzed data from 323 participants aged 4 to 73 years and, finally, a study³¹ covered 158 participants aged 7 to 13. Even with considerable sample sizes, their heterogeneity is a matter of concern.

Ten tests for IS diagnosis were identified, where seven were proprietary and patented; in some cases, it was difficult to discriminate when the tests were interchangeable, were improved versions of the same test or new ones⁵³. Along with these, 21 other tests were performed either for tool comparison or confirmation of the presence of IS. Only two studies^10,44 performed psychophysical tests. Nevertheless, the use of validated tests was rarely reported.

Interventions were, in most cases, the use or not of colored lenses. However, this was a confounding factor, because colored lenses were one of the identification tools proposed to determine IS. Fifteen studies carried some kind of wavelength measurement for the color filter instead of simply declaring a color for the filter. Of these, four used physical measurements^23,32,48,54 and the other 11 studies used a patented method for a color search instead of instrumental wavelength measurements.

The main conclusions were unequivocal about the positive effects of the lenses or as supportive for IS in 14 of the 45 studies. On the other hand, 14 studies claimed the opposite; five stated that studies were inconclusive and four suggested further studies. Diverse conclusions emerged from the other eight studies.

The level of evidence according to the OCEBM is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2
Level of evidence of the articles.

A total of five articles were classified as level 2 of evidence and three as level 3. As mentioned above, comments and letters were pushed up in their classification to level 5 of evidence in order to consider specialized opinion.

The main findings of the upper level classified articles are presented below.

Level 1

Griffiths et al.⁹ presented a comprehensive systematic review of the literature and was not limited to IS, but to the effect of colored lenses in different situations. In this article, 51 studies covering 244 patients were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials and exclusions were the absence of a control group and absence of a formal reading measurement. Of the studies analyzed, 15 were related to the use of lenses with colored filters for reading in IS. It was concluded that the use of colored lenses to improve reading in individuals with IS could not be proven based on the existing literature, regardless of the type of color system used for the study. In addition, two trials with the lowest risk of bias failed to demonstrate any improvement in reading through the use of the prescribed lenses^29,30. None of the studies with low risk of bias or high statistical value corroborated the aid of lenses in reading. The majority of studies were subject to ‘high’ or ‘uncertain’ risk of bias in one or more key aspects of study design or outcome. Studies at lower risk of bias provided less support for the benefit of colored lenses/overlays on reading ability. While many studies reported improvements with colored lenses, the effect size was generally small and/or similar to the improvement found with a placebo condition.

Galushka and Schulte-Körne⁵ performed a systematic review and meta-analysis that aimed at the development of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of reading and/or spelling disorders in children and adolescents in Germany. Among several results, they showed robust data from a metaanalysis where Irlen lens efficacy was not confirmed. They claimed that IS is a non-symptom-oriented intervention with or without the lack of evidence. They also state, within their higher grade of recommendation, that Irlen lenses should not be used.

Level 2

Wilkins et al.²³ performed a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of colored filtered lenses in children. Like the previous study, a strong selection bias for experimental and control groups was seen when the authors claimed they selected children “who reported benefit” from the study subject. The study also showed a very low size effect and assessment data based solely on the children's opinions and perceptions. Finally, the authors themselves reported no differences in assessment between group and control; however, they reported less frequent symptomatology among the experimental group.

In the studies by Robinson and Foreman^29,30, 113 individuals aged between 9-13 years, with poor reading and IS, were recruited and randomly allocated to one of three experimental groups: with properly prescribed (optimal or ideal) colored lenses (n = 38), with a blue lens (n = 41) or with a placebo lens, similar to the ideal lenses but not improving visual symptoms (n = 34). In the study, there was also a control group (n = 35) with poor reading skills but no IS. This control group was recruited from a local school, different from the experimental group, thus creating a potential selection bias. Although described as a 20-month long-term placebo-controlled study, the participants only started using the recommended lenses after the first three months. In the beginning no difference between groups in any reading measurement was observed. The group with ideal lenses presented with values slightly lower than the others. After three months, all groups showed improvements on reading tests, with no significant difference among them. It was suggested that this result occurred due to reading practice and not to the lenses themselves. Although there was improvement in textual comprehension in the group with optimal lenses, comparisons between groups in a parallel group study should be analyzed carefully⁶. As well, both studies were carried out with selection bias for the studied groups. They used several self-reported instruments for the main assessments in reading and, finally, reported a nonsignificant increase in the rate of reading²⁹ and a failure to find significant improvement for the experimental groups³⁰.

Bouldoukian and colleagues³² carried out a randomized control trial with 33 participants, comprising children and adults for testing the effects of colored Irlen lenses. Even though it was claimed to be a randomized control trial, the study had major flaws in design. The group selection was biased by inclusion of individuals who knew their condition; very low size effect with misleading percent data; arguable randomization protocol; and assessment data based on self-reported tasks and merely asked preferences.

Level 3

O'Connor et al.¹⁴ carried out a study in 92 children with reading disabilities, classified as scotopic or non-scotopic. The diagnosis was made using the Irlen Differential Perceptual Schedule and participants were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups using colored or clear overlays. The authors showed significant reading improvements among scotopic children with the preferred colored overlay filter in comparison with those not using filters, whereas non-scotopic children showed no change. The study had serious selection bias where children were pointed to the study by teachers who had identified reading difficulties. Although the authors claimed double-blind procedures, it is arguable whether they carried them out properly. Also, it is worth noting that the study lacked validated instruments for assessment.

Ritchie et al.⁴³ examined 75 children with below-average reading ability measured by validated instruments and evaluated by an Irlen-certified professional. Fourteen children were excluded from the study because they could not participate in the screening test for the syndrome. Of the remaining 61 children, 47 were diagnosed with SI (77%). Three of these 47 were removed from the main analysis because they knew their ideal lens color. All the children were tested using prescribed filters, placebo and a clear filter. In both the control and the experimental groups, the filters had no significant effect on reading. The three children who were not in the blinding showed a significant improvement in the reading test, indicating a significant placebo effect, even though it was considered biased and non-representative, as well as a possible bias of analysis once a positive result was removed from the main analysis. Of the children diagnosed with the syndrome, 44 participated in a parallel study, in which 22 received a colorless filter and 22 received the ideal filter. There was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the readings. The same group was followed for a year; 22 children (30%) were still using the filter or the lens and, those who were still available for analysis showed evident reading deterioration. Ritchie et al. also used the same group of patients in a sequel study in order to follow up the group. Data showed no pattern to distinguish the IS children who continued treatment from those who did not. The authors also report that in their study, like others, about 50% of the colored lens users abandoned the device after one year.

Vidal-López⁴⁴ tested the theories of two models of colored lens effects for reading speed: attribution bias theory and the visual stress theory associated with reading. The attribution bias consists of the placebo effect that the lenses may possess. A visual stress model (or cortical hyperexcitability) was proposed based on standard contrast tests. This test causes symptoms of visual stress in some individuals, which are mitigated by the use of specific lenses⁵⁴. According to this theory, lenses can normalize electrical discharge patterns in hyperexcitable neurons. The experimental group consisted of individuals with high scores on tests and had a preferred color for reading. The control group consisted of individuals with low scores and who did not have a preferred reading lens. Only the reading speed from the control group with colored lenses showed a statistically significant improvement. The results did not corroborate the visual stress theory since the improvement in reading speed was not higher in the experimental group during the visual stress test. In addition, the data supported the idea that the use of colored lenses may have induced changes in the individual's reading pattern (even if statistically not significant), as proposed by the attribution bias theory. Alternatively, lenses may have changed the individual's motivation and expectation (placebo effect), leading to more engagement in the reading task, transferring his disability to an external cause (the lenses).

DISCUSSION

In Griffiths et al.¹², the authors cite the book “The Irlen Revolution”, in which the author argues that only the colored filters provided by the Irlen Institute are effective in treating the syndrome, but there is no scientific basis for such an assertion. In addition, in the studies found on the Irlen Institute, a consistent definition of the disease was applied, as well as a diagnostic procedure involving test materials provided by the professionals trained by the institute. The book by Helen Irlen could not be accessed by the authors of this study, nor is there any evidence on the efficacy of Irlen lenses alone.

Sample size, group selection and study type

The summaries presented herein show the enormous heterogeneity in group selection, sample size estimations and validity, as well as major flaws in study design. In this particular case, it is remarkable that the control group had the worst measured reading and visual parameters in comparison with all the experimental groups²⁹. It was also related that studies had their groups selected from special schools or from teachers’ criteria¹⁴. Another finding was that language proficiency testing was scarce, with a notable case where the control group, which had English as their first language, was more likely to be the participants who read significantly faster with their overlay³³. The data showed the control group had only 39% of individuals with English as their first language and the experimental group with the overlay comprised 67% English speakers. Also, a common feature was the fragility or even absence of tests for the control group and severe imbalance among the case and control groups. Self-reported reading discomfort or difficulties were widespread among the studies presented here.

The IS diagnosis was a major focus of criticism. More than the vagueness of IS symptoms⁵⁵, some authors affirmed that when visual perceptual distortions were reported when reading, and such symptoms were alleviated by colored filters, then the individual was affected by the condition²⁴.

The IS diagnosis is generally based on tests developed by Irlen and colleagues⁵⁶, comprising three steps: (1) a questionnaire of 32 questions about ocular and reading symptoms; (2) a series of visual tasks, such as responding to questions about visual distortions while observing images; (3) an assessment of the degree of improvement of the presented symptoms and improvement in the visual and reading tasks while using the colored lenses²³. At the end of the reading task, all subjects were asked: How do your eyes feel? Did you have any difficulties with the print? Did you have any difficulties with the light? Is there anything you would like to add? The test remains unpublished.

Despite the claims of validity for IS diagnostic tools, the most cited validation studies raise several concerns. Only four studies performed validation tests, two of them are unpublished dissertations^57,58, and two^59,60 do not include critical aspects of the validation processes. Data from these articles do not support proper validation by methodological limitations such as the construction of the tool and its premises, sample size estimation, validation of the construct, internal scores, accuracy and reliability, even when compared with other scales of perception⁸. It is recognized, even by supporters of the tests³⁷, that the severe limitations to addressing estimates of prevalence provided by Irlen, due to her not providing any data or diagnostic criteria, result in the lack of an objective diagnostic test. Hence, it is not surprising that strong criticism relies specifically on IS detection.

The method has low sensitivity and low specificity⁹. Even readers without the syndrome, if they have poor reading, can be diagnosed with the syndrome. The opposite is also true: individuals who may have the syndrome to a lesser degree may not be diagnosed. Therefore, the method is criticized as hyper-inclusive⁵. Some of these tests were restricted to individuals who underwent the training program at the Irlen Institute and became certified Irlen screeners⁴⁴. In this case, even if it was a validated test, many of the tests performed within these studies should be regarded as invalid or flawed by the lack of such certification.

Another point of criticism is the fact that a significant part of the test for IS is based upon the patients’ preferences for a specific color. It was specified by Evans et al.²⁸ that when the patient showed preference for a colored overlay, then this color should be adopted for reading if one found it helpful. In other words, the preference for a color might define the treatment. This has profound effects, especially on children.

Moreover, selecting individuals for study, with the objective of evaluating the effect of the lenses, induces a selection bias. Irlen Syndrome is diagnosed on the basis of either the sustained voluntary use of an overlay or an immediate improvement (of more than 5%) on the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test³⁷. Wilkins developed this test to isolate and measure the effect of visual factors on reading³⁷. Most reading tests are designed to evaluate high-level reading skills, but not the contribution of visual factors to reading. However, the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test is criticized for being devised to be visually crowded and to maximize visual discomfort by simulating the striped effect, which is known to cause a pattern glare effect. Visual discomfort is maximized by reducing the spacing between words in order to achieve this effect³⁵. This may affect reading performance in the presence of eye movement control difficulties. In this sense, when separating an experimental group with IS individuals and a control group without IS, the experimental group inherently respond to the lenses in the diagnostic method. This scenario occurred in many studies^15–18. Nevertheless, even with this flagrant bias, most of the studies did not present statistically significant differences between the control and experiment groups, with adequate lenses or placebo^15,16,20.

Interventions

Among the arsenal of possible lenses, there are 55 different colors that can be prescribed in combinations of pairs, trios or even quartets for the final prescription. That is, there are a total of 368,830 possible combinations. Thus, there is a considerable random effect present in this modality of treatment, which cannot be considered valid for clinical practice and, therefore, is seriously questioned⁴. The lenses are prescribed using the Intuitive Colorimeter^®, an instrument developed by Wilkins and patented by the Medical Research Council³⁷.

Another point of concern is the fact that no wavelength measurement is performed in order to determine the actual color of the filter. Only in four studies was this procedure conducted. The tones of blue or pink or yellow are a continuum along the spectrum and very precise measurements are possible. Furthermore, the environmental luminance was barely considered in a few studies, which undoubtedly interfered in the final color received by the patients’ retina. Under any psychophysical test, this omission is considered a fatal flaw for the experiment and is like saying that a certain drug dosage is not measured before administration. The feasibility of such experimental control and the possibility of variable control was not observed in the studies.

Studies conclusion

Many studies^33–37 contradicted their own results, even claiming that, although not statistically significant, their study had shown improvements in reading speed in children with severe self-reported reading difficulties, when compared with other participants. There were also statements that, when no test detected significant differences in reading speed between the groups, the “obvious reason” was ascribed to the test⁴⁸.

More than fallacies, many of them resort to highly-speculative mechanisms in order to find possible, but far from feasible, mechanisms. Regarding the most accepted underlying mechanisms for IS, two models are proposed as a possible role of the lenses when any improvement is detected. The most identified is the placebo effect. Individual characteristics about the perception of being involved in a study for their own reading deficiency possibly increases motivation to carry out the reading task presented. In addition, the participants transfer their disability to some external resolution (the lenses), easily applicable, and not internal resolution (more reading practice, slow reading etc.)⁴⁴.

Another possible mechanism is to alleviate cortical neuronal hyperexcitability present in individuals with the syndrome. Clinical studies have failed to identify such a mechanism and the effect of lenses on it. Neuroimaging studies⁴⁷, however, show results that may support this theory. In one case report⁵³, a cortical response was verified in the child identified with IS. However, the study showed a low level of scientific evidence, several experimental flaws and has not yet been reproduced. Finally, the anatomical and functional knowledge about parvocellular, magnocellular and koniocellular pathways, the mechanisms underlying visual information processing, is robust and well established. The magnocellular pathway is insensible to colors and to the visible spectrum, being responsible for stereopsis. These facts expose the unfounded use of colored filters and reinforce that the reduction of contrast could worsen the reading ability⁶¹.

Overall features

Concerns are expressed⁶² about the validity of IS and Irlen lenses due to the lack of evidence, and the fact that colored overlays achieve no significant results. Experiments on reading problems involving suppression of distractors, background pattern removal or foreground clutter have some evidence of function⁶³. The IS advocates have been urged to publish their data in order to make them available to the scientific community, if this evidence, in fact, exists⁶¹.

It is worth noting that most of the IS and Irlen lenses advocates generally rely on potentially outdated research for their argument. Several improvements in the understanding of visual attention and its neural correlates have been attained. From the 122 articles retrieved in the present study, only 15 were published in the second decade of the 2000s. Even so, data from these previous studies ignored findings from their time⁶⁴ and still claimed improvements from colored lenses for everyone.

Another point to consider is the fact that a large bulk of data has been produced about the influence of environmental colors on cognitive tasks, perceptual performance and the sleep cycle, to mention a few. It is remarkable that IS advocates changed their position slightly³³, shifting from the controversial lacking evidence denomination of IS to Meares-Irlen syndrome/visual stress and then to a vaguer term, visual stress, supposedly as the same condition. This suggests that academic discussions about IS maybe confined to a restricted community. Not surprisingly, the strongest data challenging the findings surrounding IS were presented outside this community. Even so, the heterogeneity emerges as a critical issue when analyzing these studies, as shown below.

Taking everything in account, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Pediatrics published a guideline, in 2014⁶⁵, for clinical decision making. After 34 years of research, since IS was described in 1980, scientific evidence on disease diagnosis and lens therapy still show invalidities to corroborate the applicability of such processes. In this way, both academies do not recommend the use of colored lenses for treating reading deficits, similar to data presented by Galuschka and Schulte-Körne⁵, and from another study by these authors, on reading disabilities⁶⁶. Finally, the dilemma posed by Sagan⁶⁷ on the persistence of selected conclusions is applicable to IS and its colored lenses advocates in a way that indicates that stronger evidence is still needed.

In conclusion, after more than three decades since the description of IS, despite the quality of the current evidence regarding the subject it does not allow us to completely refute the disease in terms of symptomatology. The present study found data arguing that the screening and diagnostic tests are at least questionable, if not valid. Despite the IS treatments and the claims of its harmlessness or, at least, innocuous effects, more evidence-based medicine is needed. The prescription of colored lenses specifically for this spectrum of symptoms should not be recommended. Adequate scientific evidence is the only way to dismiss the doubts about the real usefulness of such treatment. Also, IS supporters have not been successful in either the recognition and identification of IS per se, or with possible and effective treatments. In fact, the clinical descriptions do not seem definitive and, therefore, any proposal of a therapeutic approach will have methodological difficulties. Under the light of the scientific method, the rhetoric controversy only favors the colored arguments of IS advocates. To our knowledge, we have presented the most comprehensive review on IS to date. We conclude that the use of colored lenses or overlays to ameliorate reading difficulties cannot be endorsed, and that any benefits reported by individuals in clinical settings are likely to be the result of placebo, practice or the Hawthorne effect, consistent with previous reviews and advice from several associations. Therefore, it is still necessary to develop an accurate diagnosis of IS to develop further therapeutic approaches.

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• ⁶⁶ Galuschka K, Ise E, Krick K, Schulte-Körne G. Effectiveness of Treatment Approaches for Children and Adolescents with Reading Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Plos One. 2014;9(2):e89900. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0089900
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• ⁶⁷ Sagan C. A demon haunted world. London: Headline Book; 1997. Chapter 10; p. 160

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Mar 2019

History

• Received
  05 Apr 2018
• Reviewed
  26 Sept 2018
• Accepted
  07 Nov 2018