PRINT DISTORTIONS
One of the most common symptoms of Irlen Syndrome, print distortions refer to the way the brain processes the visual information of a page, which may appear distorted, faded, moving and spinning.
ENVIRONMENTAL DISTORTIONS
These refer to irregularities, such as waves, ripples, swirls in the images of the surrounding environment. These distortions are not caused by an eye condition, but they are caused by the brain’s inability to process certain types of light.
HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES
Headaches and migraines can be a common symptom. They can happen at any time of the day and medication may not be as effective in treating these conditions in people with Irlen Syndrome.
EYE DISCOMFORT
This can be experienced when reading and when under bright light. The eyes tend to water and become tired, stingy and painful.
LIGHT SENSITIVITY
One of the most common symptoms of Irlen Syndrome is light sensitivity. This may range from finding the light too bright through to experiencing eye pain and discomfort caused by the light.
ANXIETY
As the brain reaches a state of over-stimulation, it is common to experience anxiety, restlessness and other conditions caused by sensory overload.
DEPTH PERCEPTION
Because of the visual processing challenges, images and the environment may look flat or two-dimensional. This may affect spatial awareness – people with this condition may often bump into things!
NAUSEA
The environmental distortions, such as walls moving, floors looking “bumpy” and stairs not looking straight, can result in people feeling nauseous and sick.
BODY ACHES
It is common to experience body aches, cramps and muscle tightness.
FATIGUE
People with Irlen Syndrome can experience tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion.