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Colorimetry Assessments for Visual Stress
What is colorimetry?
Colorimetry is a vision therapy using coloured overlay sheets and/or precision tinted spectacle lenses to help with undiagnosed reading difficulties, when conventional therapies have failed to yield the results you had hoped for. It works by altering the way your visual system processes high-contrast information, such as black text on a white sheet of paper.
Could colorimetry help me?
Reading difficulties related to words jumping about, constantly loosing your place on the page or a slow reading speed can all be symptoms of visual fatigue, also associated with a condition called Erlen Syndrome or scotopic insensitivity. If these symptoms sound familiar, colorimetry may be worth considering.
When should colorimetry be considered?
As with most of our specialist eyecare services, the first step is to book an eye test. This helps us to first determine whether your symptoms are related to an optical prescription or another eye condition or, visual fatigue. Only when all other factors have been ruled out, will our qualified optometrists consider recommending an initial coloured overlays assessment.
Who is suitable for colorimetry?
Although colorimetry is most often recommended for children and young adults, following a children's eye exam, colorimetry is also available to adults presenting with undiagnosed reading difficulties, following an adult eye exam. It is important to note that colorimetry is not considered to be a cure for dyslexia.
Colorimetry assessment options and interventions . . .
Coloured overlays . . .
The first step in colorimetry is a coloured overlay assessment, which may be recommended following an eye test with one of our qualified optometrists. This assessment involves a speed of reading test, both with and without various coloured overlay sheets. If an improvement is found, you will be offered a coloured overlay sheet to take home to try for a few weeks, before we consider the next step, a full coloirmetry assessment.
Full Colorimetry assessment . . .
If a coloured overlay sheet is found to prove beneficial, a more detailed assessment using an Intuitive Colorimeter is recommended. This utilises the same speed of reading test and builds on the initial overlay result by defining a precise frequency, hue and saturation of colour, that is optimised and unique to the patients visual system. This precise colour can then be exactly replicated in precision tinted spectacle lenses.
Colorimetry glasses . . .
Colorimetry glasses can invariably prove to be the most effective and, a far more convenient intervention for long-term use, because they combine your prescription with the prescribed precision colorimetry tint.
Book an appointment to start your Colorimetry journey . . .
An initial eye test is required to rule out any other vision issues, before we can carry out a Colorimetry assessment. This is best performed at one of our Colorimetry centres below . . .
Do the NHS fund colorimetry?
The NHS may provide some funding towards glasses generally, if you are on certain benefits, 60 or over or if your child is under 16 or aged 16,17 or 18 and still in full time education. The NHS will however not provide additional funding specifically for Colorimetry, so the above assessments and interventions are offered on a private only basis, less any NHS-funding support you or your child would normally be entitled to.