Click here for a list of opticians providing coloured lenses

Click here for tips before you buy tinted lenses

Overlays are an inexpensive way of trying colour. If the overlay helps, then you would probably experience more benefit from tinted lenses.

It is not essential to buy tinted lenses, it boils down to convenience.  Children can use coloured paper to write on, and photocopy worksheets, homework and music scores onto coloured paper of their choosing. 

Tinted glasses are designed to reduce glare from white surfaces and white light so there is no need to have coloured paper when using coloured glasses.  The colour is tailor made to reduce distortions and movement of text, they are also excellent for reducing glare from lighting, computer screens and white boards.

Tinted lenses help to reduce headaches, migraine and also travel sickness.

Tinted Glasses

Adults and children benefiting from the use of prescribed coloured overlays may wish to use glasses with tinted lenses instead.  Glasses can be used while writing, copying from white-boards, computer work, watching TV etc. They provide excellent eye comfort therefore extending reading time by reducing eye soreness and fatigue caused by MIS.

The colour of lenses will not be the same as the overlay therefore it is important to have a professional assessment. The colour of the lenses must be selected using an Intuitive Colorimeter machine usually operated by a qualified Optometrist or Orthoptist.

The Dyslexia and Coloured Filter Service offer Colorimeter tests in the North Yorkshire area.  For other areas in the UK contact your local Optometrists in yellow Pages or use the Cerium Visual Technologies listings on the web site link in www.essex.ac/psychology/overlays

Before ordering your glasses, advise the optometrist that you intend to have cerium tinted lenses.  It is recommended that you purchase glasses after you have been using a prescribed a colour overlay.  Use the overlay first to ensure that you benefit from the use of colour before investing in tinted lenses.  This is particularly important for children, but not so much for adults or severe cases where it is obvious that colour gives great benefit.

Tips for anyone who wishes to get coloured lenses:

• use your overlay as much as possible before the Colorimeter test to familiarise yourself with your symptoms - the colorimeter test is subjective - if you know your symptoms well, you will find it easier to pin point the most effective colour for your lenses.

• You should be allowed to take your time during the test because of it's subjective nature, be sure you are confident and happy with your final colour choice - you are the one who's going to be wearing the glasses!

• Always have an up to date eye test before your Colorimeter test, if your lenses require a prescription you may be eligible for an NHS voucher towards the cost of your glasses.

• Try to avoid having a regular eye test and a Colorimeter test back to back, give your eyes a break, Colorimetery requires a lot of concentration.

• Shop around and compare prices, some places charge more than others for the colour dipping process but Cerium, the company who do the actual dipping do not.

• Tinted glasses are wonderful and so convenient to use but not usually available on the NHS. If you cannot afford to buy them use an overlay instead, coloured paper for writing and give your eyes a break as much as possible - avoid fluorescent lighting, wear a cap while shopping (shop lighting is horrible especially in malls), wear ordinary UV protection sun glasses while driving, change the background colour of your PC to something soothing not bright white!

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Where to get tinted lenses in the Yorkshire area:

(Scroll down for the list)

The Dyslexia and Coloured Filter Service have clinics in Boroughbridge, Harrogate and Hambleton (nr Selby) offering coloured Overlay assessments (£25 + £2.50 per A5 overlay) and Colorimeter Tests for Colour Tinted Glasses (£35).

The Hambleton Clinic on the A63 near Selby

provides overlay assessments for £30 including overlay

Colorimeter tests for £35 (glasses available through Selby Specsavers)

Tel: 01757 229 109

Towns in alphabetical order:

Cerium Technology have a list of opticians, optometrists and orthoptists who use Colorimeter machines, to find someone in your area please contact www.ceriumvistech.co.uk 

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