Solutions and Costs

Coloured Overlays

Coloured Overlays

Coloured overlays are an important step in determining whether the Irlen Method can work.

green overlay

They can give immediate relief.

Coloured Overlays can help:

  • Improve print clarity and stability
  • Reduce strain and fatigue
  • Eliminate headaches
  • Improve comprehension
  • Track and keep your place while reading
  • Read faster
  • Read longer and with comfort

Irlen Overlays are the original coloured overlay technology. They are used by hundreds of thousands of students and over one million people worldwide. Irlen Overlays are the only coloured overlays available backed by more than a decade of scientific research and used by more than 4,000 school districts worldwide.

Coloured overlays are most effective for individuals whose difficulties are isolated to reading. If you experience challenges with writing, maths, depth perception, night driving, or the environment, Irlen spectral filters (worn as glasses) will be your best treatment option.

Coloured Overlays Work

After 3 months of using Irlen Coloured Overlays, students demonstrated significant improvement in reading achievement with gains between 1 year 8 months to 2 years 8 months.

Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities


Our research has shown an immediate and significant increase in reading speed using coloured overlays.

Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge University


After one week, those that received the correct Irlen Coloured transparencies gained 6.6 months in reading accuracy and 19.35 months in reading comprehension.

Journal of Reading Disabilities


The use of Irlen Coloured Overlays and filters may provide the fighting chance many at-risk readers deserve.

The Reading Teacher. William Henk, Ed.D, Associate Professor of Education and Reading Pennsylvania State University.

Copyright © 1998-2012 Perceptual Development Corp/Helen Irlen. All rights reserved.