Yellow Filters Can Improve Magnocellular Function: Motion Sensitivity, Convergence, Accommodation, and Reading

• DOI: 10.1196/annals.1325.027
• Publication Date: 2005-04-12T11:02:19Z
• Authors: N J. RAY; S FOWLER; J F. STEIN
• Keywords: Motion Perception; Accommodation, Ocular; Color; Convergence, Ocular; Dyslexia; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Reading; Basal Nucleus of Meynert; Humans; Visual Pathways; Child

Abstract: The magnocellular system plays an important role in visual motion processing, controlling vergence eye movements, and in reading. Yellow filters may boost magnocellular activity by eliminating inhibitory blue input to this pathway. It was found that wearing yellow filters increased motion sensitivity, convergence, and accommodation in many children with reading difficulties, both immediately and after three months using the filters. Motion sensitivity was not increased using control neutral density filters. Moreover, reading‐impaired children showed significant gains in reading ability after three months wearing the filters compared with those who had used a placebo. It was concluded that yellow filters can improve magnocellular function permanently. Hence, they should be considered as an alternative to corrective lenses, prisms, or exercises for treating poor convergence and accommodation, and also as an aid for children with reading problems.