Visual stress clue for CFS diagnosis

Researchers at the University of Leicester have found that people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) could experience higher levels of visual stress than those without the condition.

The team, led by Dr Claire Hutchinson from the Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, examined patients with and without CFS and found that those suffering from the condition were more susceptible to pattern-related visual stress, which causes discomfort and exhaustion when viewing repetitive striped patterns, such as when reading text.

The results of the study, published in the journal Perception, could help in the diagnosis of CFS, said the researchers. The findings suggested there were visual system abnormalities in people with CFS that may represent an identifiable and easily measurable behavioural marker of the condition.