Eye Movement Patterns and Reading Performance in Poor Readers

Abstract

Eye movement patterns and reading performance were evaluated in 38 4th and 5th grade male students who were at least 1 year behind in their reading levels. Half of the subjects (Group I) demonstrated a need for convex lenses at near by a book retinoscopy criterion. The remaining subjects (Group II) showed no need for convex lenses at near by the same criterion. The subject's eye movements during reading were recorded by a commercial device called Eye-Trac. These recordings were made with 2 lens applications, plano and +0.50 D, respectively. The number of fixations, regressions, rate of reading, and relative efficiency for each condition (plano and +0.50 D) were calculated. In Group I, 3 of 5 measures showed significant improvement with plus lenses. These subjects showed fewer regressions, increased reading speed, and higher relative efficiency with plus than without. In Group II, 3 of 5 measures showed decrement with plus lenses, while 1 (comprehension) showed improvement. These subjects showed more fixations and regressions and lower relative efficiency with plus than without. It is therefore concluded that convex lenses of low power can have considerable immediate effect on children's reading skills, sometimes helpful and sometimes detrimental, and that proper pretesting with both retinoscopy will aid in the prediction of this effect.