An investigation of the optometric correlates of reading disability

Abstract

The optometric correlates of dyslexia are reviewed. A small study is described that aimed to explore the ophthalmic correlates of reading disability and identify the most appropriate tests for further investigation. Full psychometric data were available for the subjects, most of whom had varying degrees of reading disability. A comprehensive optometric examination was carried out, including several tests of oculomotor performance, two versions of the Dunlop Test, and a test of pattern glare. Certain optometric variables were found to be significandy correlated with the degree of reading retardation, most notably the convergence and accommodative amplitudes. These results were still significant when the effects of intelligence and age were partialled out. Although the sample size limits the interpretation of these findings, several areas and optometric techniques for further investigation were identified.

Key words:

• dyslexia
• vision
• reading
• binocular vision
• accommodation