What is Visual Stress?
Visual stress (also called Meares-Irlen syndrome or scotopic sensitivity syndrome) is a condition where certain visual patterns cause discomfort. High contrast patterns, like black text on white backgrounds, can trigger symptoms including:
- Headaches and migraines while reading
- Eye strain and fatigue
- Words appearing to move, blur, or flicker
- Patterns or rivers appearing in text
- Difficulty with fluorescent lighting
- Nausea from looking at screens
How VisionFu Helps
Screen Dimming
High brightness increases contrast and can trigger visual stress. VisionFu lets you dim your screen below macOS's minimum brightness, reducing the stark contrast that causes discomfort.
Color Temperature
Shift your screen toward warmer colors to reduce the harsh blue/white that aggravates visual stress. Warmer tones are easier on sensitive eyes.
Tinted Overlays
Colored overlays change the contrast relationship between text and background. Many people with visual stress find certain tints dramatically reduce their symptoms.
Focus Mode
By dimming everything except the line you're reading, Focus Mode reduces the amount of high-contrast pattern your eyes need to process at once.
Beyond Dyslexia
Visual stress can occur with or without dyslexia. Many people without reading difficulties still experience visual discomfort from screens. If you get headaches from reading or feel screen fatigue, VisionFu's tools may help.
Who Experiences Visual Stress?
- ~20% of people with dyslexia
- ~5% of the general population
- People with migraines
- Photosensitive individuals
- Those with autism spectrum conditions