Scotopic sensitivity syndrome causes vision-related symptoms, including difficulty reading and sensitivity to light. Treatment includes tinted eyeglass lenses and adjusting background and foreground colors on computer screens. The connection between this syndrome and dyslexia is still debated.
Scotopic sensitivity syndrome is a disorder that leads to a variety of vision-related symptoms. The best known symptom is a problem in the way text is perceived, especially when the text color and background color are very contrasting. For example, when someone has scotopic sensitivity syndrome, black text on a white page may appear to move, reverse, or shrink. Many experts have believed that this disorder is associated with dyslexia, but others think the two problems are generally unrelated.
There are other symptoms associated with scotopic sensitivity syndrome as well, including night blindness and sensitivity to light. Many people may also have a narrower field of vision and difficulty focusing, and may get headaches while trying to read. All of these symptoms combined can make the individual have difficulty paying attention, which can make any learning activity difficult.
Many people with scotopic sensitivity syndrome have a lot of trouble learning to read. There is a lot of variation in the severity of different cases, but for some students it can be nearly impossible to see most of the text. When people are very young, it can be difficult for teachers and others to understand what is causing their reading problems. Teachers may simply believe that students are not trying hard enough or are suffering from some other ailment.
One of the most common treatment approaches for scotopic sensitivity syndrome involves the use of tinted eyeglass lenses. With different sufferers, the appropriate color for these lenses varies and it can be difficult to find the perfect choice. Some people also benefit from putting text on a computer screen and adjusting the differences between the background and foreground colors. As a general rule, different cases respond better to treatment than others.
Finding an appropriate treatment can have a huge effect on the lives of scotopic sensitivity syndrome sufferers. Some are able to completely reverse the symptoms and may be shocked because they never realized how much they were seeing things. After treatment, many sufferers may perform dramatically better in school or on the job.
There is some controversy about the possible connection between this syndrome and dyslexia. Some consider it a type of dyslexia, while others say it’s more of a pure vision problem that has no relation to the other condition. This definition is still evolving, and more scientific research will likely be needed to produce a definitive answer.
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