Colored Filters and Dyslexia. A Quick Gliding over Myth and (Possible) Reality

Carlo Aleci^{1, 2,}

¹Department of Ophthalmology, The Gradenigo Hospital, Turin, Italy

²Neuro-ophthalmology Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Italy

Cite this paper:
Carlo Aleci. Colored Filters and Dyslexia. A Quick Gliding over Myth and (Possible) Reality. Neuro-Ophthalmology & Visual Neuroscience. 2015; 1(1):18-21. doi: 10.12691/novn-1-1-4

Abstract

Since the early Eighties, a great deal of literature is debating the rehabilitative role of colored filters in developmental dyslexia. It has been advocated that the use of the so-called “intuitive overlays” and of individually chosen colors can be beneficial in disabled readers, improving reading rate and/or comprehension. However, in absence of a sound theory accounting for the individual preferences in color, such approach lacks scientificity and its putative effectiveness is likely to depend on placebo effect. Notwithstanding, it has been shown that the magnocellular pathway, whose abnormal inhibition is believed to be responsible for part of the reading impairment in dislexics, can be sensitive (and as such modulated) by certain light wavelength. In particular long wavelengths (red light) would have a suppressive effect whereas short wavelengths (blue light) would enhance its function. Based on this rationale, research on colored filters and its applicability on reading disabilities might provide a promising rehabilitative approach.

Keywords:
dyslexia colored filters magnocellular wavelengths

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