Dark Adaptation in Disabled Readers Screened for Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome

A peripheral retina, photoreceptor, or transient visual-system deficit has been suggested as a basis for dyslexia. We performed dark adaptation using a Goldmann-Weekers adaptometer on 41 dyslexic readers subjected to the Irlen Differential Perceptual Schedule for the Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome and on 23 volunteers of normal reading ability, all aged between 10 and 20 years. 12 of the 41 disabled readers examined had abnormally poor dark adaptation at peripheral retinal locations consistent with a rod processing-system deficit.