Coloured lenses can help with reading difficulties by reducing visual stress and improving reading fluency. Here’s how they work:
Reducing visual stress
Some individuals experience visual stress when reading, characterised by symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, and words appearing to move or blur on the page. Tinted lenses can help alleviate this stress by reducing pattern glare and enhancing the contrast between text and background, making it easier for the reader to focus. Combining the tint with an optical prescription (if required) will result in more benefits.
Improving contrast sensitivity
Tinted lenses help enhance contrast sensitivity, making text appear more precise and easier to read. This can benefit individuals struggling to distinguish letters or words from the background.
Altering perception of the text
For some individuals with reading difficulties, tinted lenses alter text perception, making it appear more stable and less likely to distort or move. The result improves reading fluency and comprehension.
Personalised selection
The effectiveness of tinted lenses varies from person to person, so it’s essential to select the tint based on individual preferences and needs. Some individuals may find that a specific colour or combination of colours works best for them, while others may not experience significant benefits at all.
Non-invasive intervention
Tinted lenses also provide a non-invasive intervention for reading difficulties. They can be used for books and worksheets, computer screens and whiteboards, allowing use whenever needed.
While tinted lenses can benefit some individuals with reading difficulties, they may not work for everyone. It’s essential for individuals experiencing reading difficulties to undergo comprehensive assessments by qualified professionals to determine the underlying causes and appropriate interventions.
VisionCare Optometry uses a range of tests to identify the best options required, ranging from Thomson READEz and Eye Tracker software, the Intuitive Colorimeter and The Wilkins Rate of Reading Test, designed to objectively measure the benefits obtained by individuals who suffer from visual stress, viewing text through tinted lenses.
The tests do not measure cognitive ability or intelligence but compare the effect of reading simple words with and without the selected tint. The patient is simply required to read words aloud while reading times and errors are noted.
The test results are reliable and repeatable.