Yellow filters can improve magnocellular function: motion sensitivity, convergence, accommodation, and reading.

Ray NJ., Fowler S., Stein JF.

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.

DOI

10.1196/annals.1325.027

Type

Journal article

Journal

Ann N Y Acad Sci

Publication Date

04/2005

Volume

1039

Pages

283 - 293

Keywords

Accommodation, Ocular, Basal Nucleus of Meynert, Child, Color, Convergence, Ocular, Dyslexia, Humans, Motion Perception, Reading, Visual Pathways

Permalink Original publication