Dyslexia and Vision Problems

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that causes difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition. Poor spelling and decoding abilities are also hallmarks of dyslexia. These challenges are primarily linked to deficits in the phonological component of language.

It's important to clarify that dyslexia is not caused by vision problems. However, research indicates that individuals with dyslexia experience a higher prevalence of certain visual issues.

Visual Challenges Associated with Dyslexia

Studies have identified that individuals with dyslexia often exhibit a higher incidence of visual problems. Several common problems are listed below. It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list.

Accommodative Dysfunction: Difficulty in maintaining clear vision at different distances due to issues with the eye's focusing ability.
Oculomotor Dysfunction: Impaired control of eye movements, affecting the ability to track lines of text smoothly.
Convergence Insufficiency: Challenges in coordinating both eyes to work together, leading to double vision or eye strain during reading tasks.
Visual-Spatial Deficits: Problems in processing spatial relationships, which can affect letter and word recognition.

These visual challenges contribute to discomfort during reading and other close-up tasks. This exacerbates the difficulties faced by individuals with dyslexia and adds a significant burden to their daily lives.

A complete list of the studies that demonstrate a higher incidence of visual deficits and visual symptoms in people with dyslexia would be overwhelming. However, we mention a few important ones below.

Developmental Dyslexia and Vision Quercia et al, 2013
Differential Diagnosis of Vergence and Saccade Disorders in Dyslexia Ward & Kapoula, 2020
Frequency of Visual Deficits in Children with Developmental Dyslexia Raghuram et al, 2018
Self Reported Visual Symptoms in Children with Developmental Dyslexia Raghuram et al, 2019

The Role of Vision Therapy

Vision therapy involves structured activities designed to improve visual skills. By enhancing abilities such as eye focusing, tracking, and coordination, vision therapy can reduce visual symptoms, making it easier for individuals with dyslexia to manage their reading and learning tasks.

It's crucial to emphasize that while vision therapy can alleviate visual symptoms associated with dyslexia, it does not treat the underlying language-based aspects of dyslexia itself. Addressing the visual components can lead to improvements in comfort and efficiency during reading and other visual tasks. This improves academic and work performance. Comprehensive support for dyslexia should also include reading interventions and educational strategies tailored to the individual's specific needs.

Conclusion

In summary, understanding and addressing the visual challenges that accompany dyslexia can play a significant role in supporting individuals in their educational and professional lives. By combining vision therapy with targeted reading interventions, we can provide a more holistic approach to managing dyslexia and its associated difficulties.