Colorimetry: Tinted Lenses For Reading 

Coloured overlays can be extremely helpful, but are limited in their use. Because they are placed on top of the page they cannot easily be used for written work or computer work. A tinted spectacle lens will allow a person to write on paper and work on the computer, leaving both hands free for the task.

The colour of tinted lenses may differ from overlays and coloured paper. This is because when wearing tinted glasses the eyes adapt to lens colour.

When using an overlay the light entering the eye is ordinary white light (a mix of all colours) but when wearing a tint the eye is exposed only to the colour of the tint, as the tint itself absorbs all the other colours.

Colorimeter tinted lens assessment

If you have sustained success with a coloured overlay over a period of 6 months, but find it too limiting, then a full Colorimeter Assessment is required in order to determine a spectacle tint that will produce the same benefit.

The Colorimeter Assessment explores the optimum colour to give maximum relief from visual perceptual disturbances – and this colour of tint is then made up in a pair of spectacles. Tinted spectacles can be useful for all black and white work including reading, writing, copy work, drawing and computer.