Tinted Lenses and Dyslexia: A Review of the Literature

Anne Fitzgerald, DipAppSc(Cumb), DOBA

Recent neuroscientific evidence has suggested that dyslexia may be the result of micro architectural changes in the language areas of the brain. However, treatments for dyslexia aimed at helping or curing one or more signs of dyslexia are still widespread despite a lack of any empirical or statistical evidence to support the validity of the treatment.
Amongst the therapies which have emerged for dyslexia is the use of tinted lenses.
Since 1983 when the use of the tinted lenses to treat dyslexia was suggested much interest has been generated into the effects of this techniques. Since then the treatment has been used to treat dyslexic patients in Australia despite the lack of supporting clinical evidence.
The review of the literature on tinted lenses revealed that there is no consensus of opinion on the efficacy of this treatment. The main questions that remain unanswered in relation to the treatment are firstly, does it work and secondly, if so does it affect vision or is it a placebo effect?