The above is the title to an article on dyslexia research at the University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford, and the Learning Difficulties Research Clinic of The Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, in the October Newsletter 2000 of the Colour Group Great Britain. The authors of the article are GS Hebb, Mrs Sue Fowler and Professor JF Stein of the Oxford University Laboratory, and Mrs Christine Clisby at The Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading. They write as follows:

Dyslexics often complain that letters appear to blur and move around. Magnocellular function is thought to be reduced in Dyslexia. Magno cells help control eye movements. Often Dyslexics' binocular control is poor, contributing to unsteady viewing and visual reading errors. Tinted lens use for reading disability is well reported. It commenced with no scientific backing in the 1980's. Irlen lenses, the associated scotopic sensitivity syndrome, and associated claims have not been thoroughly confirmed, or refuted yet. Three cone types, and four colours in colour opponency, suggest any benefit from colour overlays / glasses ought to be achievable using simply either yellow, blue, green or red filters. Yellow filters may increase contrast. Hence blue filters (negative yellow) may reduce contrast. Dyslexics reporting the illusion of visual motion whilst reading prefer blue filters. Our results suggest, children who have worn blue lenses >1 year (Old Blue's) have a significantly higher blue/yellow contrast sensitivity function compared to controls (P=0.05). Blue filters significantly reduced Old Blue's ability to detect motion compared to controls (P=0.02). Many Old Blue's no longer report the illusion of visual motion whilst reading, suggesting that the beneficial effect occurred soon after commencing the treatment. To elucidate the effect of blue lenses, children commencing blue lens /overlay treatment (New Blue's) had their blue/yellow and luminance contrast sensitivity (chromatic & achromatic), motion detection, and fixation stability tested at baseline and three months. Data for controls retested after six months will bed presented.