Visual Aspects of Reading Performance in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Rachel L Wilson1, Kevin B Paterson1, Victoria McGowan1
1Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Psychology
|September 4, 2018
Summary
People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) experience measurable vision-related reading difficulties. Objective tests revealed slower reading speeds and poorer visual acuity in ME/CFS patients compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients often report reading difficulties.
- Objective evidence for these vision-related symptoms in ME/CFS has been lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively assess reading speed and visual acuity in ME/CFS patients.
- To determine if visual crowding impacts reading performance in ME/CFS.
Main Methods:
- Standardized tests of reading speed and visual acuity were administered.
- Crowded acuity and acuity for isolated words were measured in 27 ME/CFS patients and matched controls.
Main Results:
- ME/CFS patients demonstrated significantly slower maximum reading speeds.
- Poorer crowded acuity was observed in the ME/CFS group compared to controls.
- Crowded acuity correlated significantly with maximum reading speed.
Conclusions:
- Vision-related reading difficulty is a measurable symptom in ME/CFS.
- Visual crowding contributes to slower reading speeds in ME/CFS patients.
- These findings support the objective characterization of ME/CFS symptoms.
Keywords:
chronic fatigue syndromecrowded acuitymyalgic encephalomyelitisreading acuityreading speedvisual acuityMore Related Videos
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