About ChromaGen™
ChromaGen™ is patented, trademarked and FDA Cleared. The patented
diagnostic system is used by trained professionals for the management
of Academic Skills Disorder (ASD™). ASD™ is an umbrella
term that includes dyslexia, color deficiency, dyspraxia (lack of
coordination; clumsiness), and other learning related difficulties.
In some cases, ChromaGen has also been known to help migraine sufferers.
ChromaGen is a system of eight colored haploscopic filters of a
known density and color hue which, when prescribed to sufferers
of ASD™, has been proven to improve these disorders.
ChromaGen was developed by David Harris at the Corneal Laser Center
for Color Blindness at Clatterbridge Hospital in Cheshire, England.
Dr. Chaaban Zeidan, an optometrist from Tamworth, England together
with Cantor & Nissel further developed ChromaGen for dyslexia,
resulting in patent approval in 1997. Chromagen Europe is the official European and Worldwide distributor of Chromagen and ChromaGen USA is the
official USA and CANADA distributor of ChromaGen products through Chromagen Europe. (not in UK & Europe)
Unlike other programs, ChromaGen offers a range of eight colored
filters, as opposed to other lenses such as X-chrom and ColorMax,
which only offer lenses for those with red/green color blindness
and are not FDA approved. This product is available with a prescription
in both spectacle and contact lens modality exclusively through
ChromaGen USA.
“The ChromaGen™ system of lenses has been awarded
Millennium Product status [by the Design Council in Britain] to
recognize forward thinking, challenging, creative and innovative
products,” and “highlights the best of British inventions.”
ChromaGen™ and Dyslexia
Reading discomfort often referred to as dyslexia is a condition
in which affected people are unable to “grasp the meaning
of written or printed words and sentences” or “to read
more than a few lines with understanding.” It is believed
that Dyslexia could be a visual disorder as well as a neurological
disorder due to Magnocellular system abnormality. Problems can show
themselves in reading, writing, number work, short-term memory,
hand control and visual processing. Timekeeping, sense of direction
and interpersonal skills can also be affected. Approximately 16
percent of the over 292 million people in the United States are
affected by some form of reading disorder that cannot be corrected
by optical correction (powered lenses).
“In trials, the ChromaGen lens system has been shown to be
of benefit to those dyslexics who suffer from the perceptual distortion
of text that makes reading more difficult. These distortions include
blurring (that cannot be corrected by refraction), movement of the
letters or words, shimmering to the page, the words sinking into
the white background of the page, pattern glare, and patterns formed
by the spaces between words and lines that interfere with reading.
Although ChromaGen is a symptomatic treatment and the underlying
neurological condition remains unchanged, in the majority of these
patients the ease of reading is improved.” Results of an in-office
study performed by Dr. Zeidan indicate that 91% of 434 patients
showed over a 45% improvement in speed-reading and writing abilities
over a 6-month period. Neuroscientist Professor John Stein has estimated
that using the special colored filters of ChromaGen™ could
help approximately one in three people who suffer from visual dyslexia,
or reading discomfort.
ChromaGen is a unique system of colored lenses for dyslexia. It
provides a quick and reliable screening test for visual dyslexia.
When the patient selects the right color combination during the
assessment an immediate improvement can be experienced including
clearer text, ease of reading and word and number recognition. As
a result, text typically becomes clearer and stays still on the
page.
Dyslexic users of ChromaGen have reported:
“When I read, I don’t miss lines out as I used to
and this means I am faster at reading. And when I write I don’t
miss out words.” – Thomas (age 7)
“My speed of reading increased at once and I was able to
read without so much fatigue. The glare off the page had gone and
my eyes were soothed.” – Linda (age 46)
“Instead of seeing a mass of undecipherable text, I can
now see the individual words.” – Sonsoles Herras (age
40), Madrid
ChromaGen™ and Colour
Deficiency
Color deficiency, also known as color blindness, is an optical condition
in which affected people have a deficiency in one or more of the
primary colors (red, green, or blue) recognized through the retina.
There are approximately 3.5 million people afflicted with color
blindness in the United States. Ten percent of males and 0.6 to
0.8 percent of women are color deficient. Color deficiencies can
be grouped into the following categories: Deutrans (lack in green
receptors), Protans (lack in red receptors), Tritans (lack in blue
receptors), Monochromatics (sees only 1 pigment), and Achromatics
(has no functioning cones). Defective color vision can range from
near-normal ability to distinguish colors, where typically the chemical
for seeing red or green is slightly altered, to a high degree of
confusion, where the chemical balance is considerably altered.
In trials, over 97% of color blind people reported a significant
enhancement to their color vision and their everyday lives. For
people suffering from color deficiency or 'color blindness', ChromaGen
haploscopic filters work by changing the wavelength of each color
going into one or both eyes, which enhances color perception and
color discrimination. Improved color vision may also lead to improved
safety through earlier identification of hazard warning lights and
brake lights on the roads.
ChromaGen™ users with colour deficiency testify:
“I realized that some cars I thought were black were navy
blue or dark green. As I looked around, it was as if colors popped
out at me, especially orange, pink and fuchsia. I will be able to
see colors I was lacking.” – Nick A., New York
“I used to think I had a genetic defect that just couldn’t
be helped. Now I see everything in a new light. Flowers are just
so astonishingly beautiful they take your breath away.” –
A. Bristol, GP
How ChromaGen™ Works
It is believed that, in reading disorders, there is a problem with
the magnocellular pathway or 'wiring circuit' to the brain. The
magnocellular pathway consists of large nerve cells that form a
path from the eye to the brain. It is thought that these pathways
differ in people with reading disorders from those without reading
disorders.
“The magnocellular system carries important information
about timing and, if incorrectly formed, can scramble the information
passed between the eyes and the brain – just like two fax
machines that are not quite communicating correctly. This results
in the blurring and distortion to writing that many dyslexics notice,
and which others may experience but do not realize is abnormal.”
The fitting of ChromaGen lenses helps re-synchronize and selectively
changes the speed of the information in the pathways to enable sufferers
to improve their reading ability, handwriting and spelling.
In cases of color deficiency, ChromaGen changes the level of each
color going into the non-dominant eye and, in some cases, both the
dominant and non-dominant eye, enabling enhanced color perception
and color discrimination.
ChromaGen’s eight tints are available in spectacle and contact
lenses that are plano or prescription. In cases where only one eye
needs to be treated, one treated ChromaGen lens has provided similar
beneficial results. The examination process allows patients of any
age to experience the benefits of ChromaGen. All ChromaGen lenses
are only available through ChromaGen USA (www.chromagen.us)
ChromaGen™ Spectacles
Available lens parameters are single vision, astigmatic and multifocal.
To hide the tinted lens, a neutral grey finish is available so that
the best cosmetic effect is achieved.
Spectacles are of benefit for those patients experiencing ASD™
as they are only needed when reading or studying, whereas contact
lenses are worn consistently.
Spectacle blanks are available for frames authorized by ChromaGen
USA. Marchon frames are the Authorized Frames of Choice,
including Calvin Klein, DKNY, Fendi, Michael Kors, Coach, Nautica,
Nike, Flexon, X Games, and Disney.
ChromaGen™ Contact Lenses
ChromaGen’s lenses are Benz 55% water material and the tinted
area is only the pupil area of 5, 6 or 7 mm with a standard BC of
8.60mm in 14.5 diameter. Single vision and toric contacts are available.
Contact lenses are cosmetically beneficial, as the pupil of the
lenses is tinted, and in most cases this tinting is undetectable.
ChromaGen™ Exam Kits
The ChromaGen Diagnostic System is available only to Licensed Practitioners
that have completed and received their official guild certification
for ChromaGen. It comprises a full range of diagnostic filters and
a 25 contact lens trial set in the same colors as the filters. This
offers a choice of density of color and of tint diameter (5mm, 6mm
& 7mm) to ensure optimum performance from the chosen hue. This
kit is sanctioned for the testing of both ChromaGen spectacle and
contact lens use.
ChromaGen USA will distribute a special Detection Kit.
This kit will be available for the layperson, school workers, hospitals,
and other individuals or companies that would like to be able to
test for ASD™. The use of this kit will allow the user to
determine whether ChromaGen will benefit the individual being tested.
Once tested, the user will be able to refer the individual to a
certified ChromaGen Practitioner for further testing.
Support for Practitioners
Practitioners of the ChromaGen haploscopic filter system are required
to attend training seminars. Seminars will provide training into
the techniques and subtleties needed to properly use the ChromaGen
system. Guild Certified Practitioners will receive ChromaGen Certification
and will be able to test and prescribe the necessary lenses for
their patients.
Once a practitioner has been certified, there will be ongoing
professional seminars available. An ongoing professional back up
service will be available to Certified Practitioners.
ChromaGen™ Certification
Only qualified doctors who are certified through factory
trained specialists can dispense ChromaGen. Only ChromaGen USA is authorized to screen and refer practitioners. Each and every
Certified Practitioner must purchase a special examination kit and
agree to special conditions to safeguard the patent.
Certified Practitioners will have exclusive rights to dispense
other Cantor & Nissel products, such as unique fashion contact
lenses and prosthetic lenses.
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www.dyslexiaa2z.com/visionchromagen.html
www.corneal-asia.co.kr/product.htm
Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, 20th ed. Baltimore: Williams
and Wilkins.
Stein, John and Vincent Walsh, 1997 To see but not to read; the
magnocellular theory of dyslexia, Oxford University;
http://www.physiol.ox.ac.uk/~jfs/pdf/stein&walsh.pdf
www.dyslexiaa2z.com/whatis.html
Hodd, N. B. 2000 The Chromagen™ method for colour deficiency
and specific learning difficulties, Optometry Today - Optics Today;
http://www.optometry.co.uk/articles/20001117/hodd.pdf
Harrabin, Roger Dyslexics turn to coloured specs, BBC News, 2 July
2003
www.azmaneye.com/Pages/chromagen.html
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