I can see clearly now the blur is gone

Paul Osborne sees the world through tinted glasses.
The 28-year-old Rotorua man had always struggled with reading. To him, words appeared blurred and joined together, which made school difficult.
"I was diagnosed as a teenager as being dyslexic and had glasses for reading," he said. "My reading was really atrocious and I had to go through extra classes just to keep up.
"In the end I failed school but I was giving 110 per cent, it was frustrating."
It was only when the security alarm technician was recently sent to a management mentor programme through work that he was finally able to see things clearly.
"A lady came over from Tauranga to talk about the business development side of things and I was telling her I always had reading and writing problems.
"We got talking more and she said I might have Irlen Syndrome."
Also called Mears-Irlen Syndrome (to recognise the New Zealand teacher who first noticed the phenomenon), the condition is brought on by visual stress, which occurs when a page of black and white text is viewed. The words may appear to blur or move on the page. Symptoms are wide-ranging but include ADHD, eye strain, headaches while reading, poor motivation and sensitivity to light.
Globally, surveys have shown Irlen Syndrome can affect one in eight of the general population and nearly half of those identified with learning difficulties.
"I was referred to an Irlen diagnostician where I had an eye test and had to be tested with fluorescent lights, which previously really affected my reading," said Mr Osborne.
The syndrome is treated by changing the wavelength (colour) and contrast of reading material, by using coloured overlays or wearing coloured glasses tinted to an individual's requirement.
An initial examination by a qualified optometrist is undertaken as part of the diagnosis and treatment, with further testing by a registered Irlen clinician.
"I've had my glasses for a month now, they're two-toned orange and brown lenses.
"Reading is a lot easier and work has noticed the difference with me. I'm reading manuals a lot more where before I just couldn't be bothered dealing with them.
"My boss had never heard of it before either but he was told his son had the same problems during a parent-teacher interview before he got picked up with it.
"I just wished I had been diagnosed earlier, during school. Who knows what I could of have done," he said.
"If people think they might have a similar problem then definitely get in touch with an expert to get the test done."
Irlen diagnostician Mary Cubie said the syndromewas genetic and could affect people of all ages.
"I believe it is a major cause of learning difficulties and even disruptive behaviour in class because children can't concentrate, so they play up."
Rotorua primary and intermediate students have been screened for Irlen Syndrome as part of a study that will be presented at an Australasian conference later this month in New Zealand. Mrs Cubie said classrooms were hostile environments for light-sensitive children.
"They are in classrooms that are so bright with whiteboards and working with computers and fluorescent lights.
"If you pick them up before puberty they may only need glasses for two or three years and then they are fine for life.
"Some of these kids have been in special needs classes and once they wear these lenses within a few years they are moved into accelerant classes," she said.
"I know of people who were struggling in school and since being diagnosed have gone on to university and have studied for their PhD."
To identify and assist children
with Irlen Syndrome:
Check reading behaviour
Does the child skip words, lines or punctuation, re-read lines by mistake, read a word from the line above or below, confuse letters that look similar? Does the child leave off the ends of words, begin in the middle of words, not even attempt longer words or read slowly, word by word?
Check body language
When reading, does the child blink a lot, squint, open their eyes wide, vary the distance from the page, get up close, become restless, lose concentration, take frequent breaks? Does the child's eyes become sore, tired, hot, start to water or look strained?
Check paper colour
See if reading is easier on coloured paper or if covered by a coloured plastic overlay.
Check the lighting
Most (but not all) individuals with Irlen Syndrome are sensitive to glare, such as sunlight and fluorescent light, particularly the "cool white" type.
In dimmer light, the distortions and discomfort are reduced - in some cases they disappear altogether. If possible, allow the child to read and work in the type of lighting they find most comfortable. Where this is not feasible, allow the child to wear a cap in class with a brim to shade their eyes.
Check that the cause and not the symptom is being treated
The child may be exhibiting behaviours that are the result of being placed in situations of continued frustration and failure. Trying to recognise or decode a word that goes blurry, moves, turns into a black blob or disappears, is an impossible task. Being told to "try harder" or being given extra reading, exacerbates the situation.
What is Irlen syndrome?
Irlen  syndrome is a specific type of perceptual problem that affects the way the brain processes visual information. It is not an optical problem.
For those with Irlen  syndrome, the brain is unable to process full spectral light. This results in:
A range of distortions in the environment.
A range of distortions on the printed page.
Physical and behavioural problems.
The symptoms
Helen Irlen, who discovered this condition in the early 1980s, identified six groups of symptoms experienced (singly or in combination) by many people with reading difficulties. They include:
Light sensitivity
Bothered by glare, fluorescent lights, sunlight or car headlights. Discomfort or difficulty working in a brightly lit room.
Contrast
Difficulty reading black print on white paper. The white may be bright, glary, uncomfortable to look at and may compete with the words.
Print
Difficulty reading print, numbers or music. Words can blur, merge together, wobble, move, double, or even disappear.
Span
Unable to see groups of letters or words clearly at the same time. Only one word or part of a word is clear while the rest is faint or blurry.
Concentration
Problems concentrating on reading or writing. Becomes restless, tired or takes frequent breaks.
Depth
Inability to judge distance and spatial relationships accurately. May bump into things, have difficulty with ball games and stairs.