Coloured Overlays for Visual Stress

Coloured overlays are tinted, see-through sheets that lay over a page to reduce visual stress and make reading more comfortable. They support visual stress (Meares-Irlen syndrome), not dyslexia itself, though visual stress often occurs alongside dyslexia. SENCOs use them in class and parents use them at home.

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Our top pick

Crossbow A4 Coloured Overlays - full-page tinted sheets

Our top pick for visual stress is the Crossbow A4 Coloured Overlays, a set of full-page tinted sheets from one of the most established names in visual stress support. The A4 size covers a whole page, so it suits worksheets, longer texts and exam papers rather than a single line at a time. Each colour is placed over the page to cut glare and steady the text, helping readers with visual stress read for longer with less effort.

View the Crossbow A4 Coloured Overlays

Visual stress is a perceptual difficulty where text can appear to move, blur, glare or swim on the white page, making reading tiring and hard to sustain. A coloured overlay reduces that effect by lowering the contrast between the text and the background, so the words sit still and reading feels more comfortable. The right colour is personal, which is why most overlays come in a range of tints to trial.

Are coloured overlays for dyslexia or visual stress?

Coloured overlays are for visual stress, not dyslexia. Dyslexia is a language-based difficulty with reading and spelling, linked to how the brain processes the sounds in words, and a tinted sheet cannot change that. Visual stress is a separate condition affecting how comfortably the eyes cope with text on the page. The two frequently occur together, so many dyslexic readers also find an overlay helpful, but the overlay is easing the visual stress rather than treating the dyslexia.

How do coloured overlays help with reading?

By placing a coloured filter over the page, an overlay calms the glare and visual distortion that some readers experience, which can make text clearer and steadier. Readers often report less eye strain, fewer headaches and the ability to read for longer. Colour preference varies from person to person, so trialling several tints is the best way to find the one that works. Explore our wider visual stress range for related support.

How do I choose the right coloured overlay?

Start by trialling a range of colours and letting the reader pick the tint that makes text feel clearest and most settled, as preference is individual. Choose A4 for whole pages, worksheets and longer texts, or a reading ruler when the reader benefits from tracking one line at a time. For screens, a monitor overlay does the same job on a computer. If you are unsure where to begin, a screening kit helps identify a starting colour.

Who are coloured overlays for?

In schools, coloured overlays are a low-cost, easy-to-introduce support that SENCOs and teachers can offer pupils who find reading from white pages uncomfortable. They sit neatly within SEND provision and can be used in class as part of a pupil's normal way of working. At home, parents use overlays to make reading, homework and books less tiring for children who show signs of visual stress. They suit readers of all ages, from primary pupils to adults.

Browse the full range below, or contact our team for advice on trialling colours or placing a school or bulk order.

 

Need advice? Call us to have a chat - 01394 671 818 or email us hello@thedyslexiashop.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

What are coloured overlays used for?

Coloured overlays are used to reduce visual stress when reading. They are tinted, transparent sheets placed over a page so the text appears clearer and steadier, with less glare from the white background. They are commonly used by people who find text seems to move, blur or shimmer, and they suit readers of all ages at school, at work and at home.

Are coloured overlays for dyslexia or visual stress?

Coloured overlays are for visual stress, not dyslexia. Visual stress, also called Meares-Irlen syndrome, is a perceptual condition where text seems to shimmer, move or glare on the page. Dyslexia is a separate, language-based difficulty with reading and spelling. The two often occur together, so many dyslexic readers also benefit from an overlay, but the overlay is addressing the visual stress rather than the dyslexia.

Do coloured overlays help with dyslexia?

Coloured overlays do not treat dyslexia. Dyslexia relates to how the brain processes the sounds in words, and a coloured sheet cannot change that. What overlays can help with is visual stress, a separate condition that makes text appear to move, blur or glare. Visual stress is more common in people with dyslexia, which is why the two are so often linked, but they are not the same thing.

How do I choose the right colour overlay?

The best colour is the one that makes text feel clearest and most comfortable for that individual reader, so trialling several tints is the right approach. Let the reader compare colours on a normal page and pick the one that settles the text. Choose A4 overlays for whole pages and worksheets, or a reading ruler if the reader prefers to focus on one line at a time. A screening kit can help identify a starting colour.

Can coloured overlays be used in exams?

Coloured overlays can usually be used in exams as part of a pupil's normal way of working, and they are not generally a controlled access arrangement that needs prior approval. Because rules can vary by qualification, the exams officer or SENCO should always confirm the arrangement with the awarding body in advance. Using the same overlay in class and in assessments helps make sure it is established as the pupil's normal practice.

What age are coloured overlays suitable for?

Coloured overlays are suitable for readers of all ages, from young primary pupils through to secondary students and adults. There is no minimum age, although younger children may need an adult to help position the overlay and choose a colour. In the workplace, adults use overlays to reduce eye strain and read for longer, and they form part of reasonable adjustments for visual stress.

How are coloured overlays different from coloured paper or a reading ruler?

A coloured overlay is a clear tinted sheet you lay over existing printed text, so it works with any page. Coloured or tinted paper has the colour built into the page itself and is used for your own printing and writing. A reading ruler is a smaller tinted strip that also helps track a single line at a time. Many readers use a combination depending on the task.