Comments on: Streff Syndrome

By: Dr Doug Cook

Dr Doug Cook — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:08:46 +0000

Thank you for your comment. In hundreds of cases, lens therapy and vision therapy has resolved all my cases. None of my Streff Syndrome cases persisted to the point I had to rethink and consider psychiatric counseling.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:15 +0000

I was diagnosed with Streff Syndrome (by Dr. John Streff himself, believe it or not) when I was 15. I had been given a prescription when I was 8 that was just too strong for my eyes. My “stress” was not being able to see correctly. I was a completely adjusted and non-stressful person (I’m still not easily stressed). I did vision therapy with Dr. Streff and my vision has increased 20/200 to 20/125. My symptom was severe headaches. Be careful not to jump to conclusions about patients. My problems were purely visual and I did not need to see a psychiatrist. Eight years later, I still wear glasses but no more headaches!!!

By: Dr Doug Cook

Dr Doug Cook — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:05:35 +0000

My best answer is “possibly.” There is a lot of information that needs to be asked and tests to be run. I would recommend a visit with a functional optometrist that has experience with this condition. You can find these specialists in a directory maintained by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development at this website http://covd.org/

By: sophie gunn

sophie gunn — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:10:46 +0000

my daughter was diagnosed with Streff Syndrome. She is 6 years old, which I understand is young for this type of diagnosis. i don’t see the correlation between her double and blurred vision to stress in her life so far. Unless she is extremely sensitive to everything around her and not able to cope with “normal” stress. She leaves in a loving family.

By: Dr. Gurtisen

Dr. Gurtisen — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:37:16 +0000

How does Streff Synd. relate to non malingering, Bilateral, collapsing, peripheral vision and clear central vision under high conditions of high stress and anxiety? Thanks for your comment

By: David Kisling, O.D.

David Kisling, O.D. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:46:05 +0000

Just because of the demographics I am always concerned about sexual abuse when I see patients with functional vision loss. I have never had any luck getting parents to take their children to a therapist which adds to concerns of abuse. However, most kids I have seen do not show any behavioral signs of abuse which always adds to the mystery. It always seems difficult to really determine if the stress is visual or psychological. I do use low base in and any tint that will improve acuity. We frequently match tints for someone who has had an Irlen evaluation and even though it is the same only in appearance it has always worked.

By: Dr Doug Cook

Dr Doug Cook — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:27:35 +0000

I agree with the functional label too. I prefer this term in fact and use it in the office most of the time but avoided it during this article construction. I will update the text to reflect. I also see the near VA usually depressed as well. Thanks for your feedback.

By: Kevin Cline

Kevin Cline — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:43:56 +0000

Doug,

Here are a few comments: I alwasys thought of Streff Syndrome as a functional type of amblyopia. I think of Psychogenic Amblyopia the amblyopia that can result from stress due to emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. I have seen this type of amblyopia and it requires an appropriate referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Streff syndrome I always looked at as being due to stress as you have said but particularly due to nearpoint stress i.e. stress on the visual system due to having to due the socially compulsive biologically unacceptable task called reading or any extended nearpoint task.

Concerning diagnostic pattern–I also see near acuity worse than distance.

I do agree that you have to rule out organic pathology at the time of the initial diagnosis or see back in one month and if not improved refer out to pediatric ophthalmologist.