Glasses for dyslexia

jp2031

I was diagnosed with sever dyslexia a couple of years ago, and i've found that using a blue overlay helps me read... However, soon i'm going to work, and I cant go around with a blue layover; does anyone know if i can get any financial help for a coloured lense? Ive been told it can be up to £300 for a pair, which I just cant afford. But I really could do with a pair of these glasses... Im not even sure where to go to get them; I am in Lanark, scotland. Anyone got any advice?
Thanks
John

bestpud

jp2031 wrote: »

I was diagnosed with sever dyslexia a couple of years ago, and i've found that using a blue overlay helps me read... However, soon i'm going to work, and I cant go around with a blue layover; does anyone know if i can get any financial help for a coloured lense? Ive been told it can be up to £300 for a pair, which I just cant afford. But I really could do with a pair of these glasses... Im not even sure where to go to get them; I am in Lanark, scotland. Anyone got any advice?
Thanks
John

I was told there is no help available and I'm entitled to free prescriptions and receive an NHS voucher for lenses.

I'll be keeping an eye out in case anyone on here says differently though!

I use a green overlay and it's made a massive difference to me. I also change the background colour on the computer.

I'd pay for tinted lenses but as I have other eye problems, they cannot guarantee they will work without trying and it's a lot of money for an experiment!

Why can't you use the overlay - is it because you don't want to draw attention to yourself, or because you will be moving about a lot at work? They should make reasonable adjustments for you and that could include coloured notepads etc, I imagine...?

jp2031

Dont really want to draw attention to myself carrying around a blue tinted overlay. I'm going on a years placement in a managerial position, and I'd feel a lot more confident with the glasses than this silly overlay thing. I got Read and Write gold from my university, which has turned my computer all blue haha.

GlasweJen

You would need a full colourimeter assessment, in central scotland you can get one done at the caledonian university or at black and lizars in Milngavie or black and lizars near Silverknowes in Edinburgh. The results for your lenses wont be the same as the overlays.

In terms of funding you can't get NHS funding for the lenses but if you're a student who is getting a disabled student allowance you can claim coloured glasses back through SAAS (and i imagine the English equivilent) only if your needs assessment has noted Irlens syndrome and recommended coloured lenses or your educational psychology report recommends the use of coloured lenses.

The assessment cost me £50 in 2005, the waiting list (at caledonian) was 7 weeks, shorter for B&L in Edinburgh but the caledonian lady was more qualified. I was not able to claim the £50 assessment back from SAAS.

ETA I bloody hate my glasses and just cut one of my overlays into 2 A5 sized ones which is more discrete. Work also pay for coloured paper for me to print onto which I use when I can to reduce eye stress.

bestpud

GlasweJen wrote: »

You would need a full colourimeter assessment, in central scotland you can get one done at the caledonian university or at black and lizars in Milngavie or black and lizars near Silverknowes in Edinburgh. The results for your lenses wont be the same as the overlays.

In terms of funding you can't get NHS funding for the lenses but if you're a student who is getting a disabled student allowance you can claim coloured glasses back through SAAS (and i imagine the English equivilent) only if your needs assessment has noted Irlens syndrome and recommended coloured lenses or your educational psychology report recommends the use of coloured lenses.

The assessment cost me £50 in 2005, the waiting list (at caledonian) was 7 weeks, shorter for B&L in Edinburgh but the caledonian lady was more qualified. I was not able to claim the £50 assessment back from SAAS.

ETA I bloody hate my glasses and just cut one of my overlays into 2 A5 sized ones which is more discrete. Work also pay for coloured paper for me to print onto which I use when I can to reduce eye stress.

I was told DSA won't cover the cost in England. I don't know if I was wrongly informed or it is different here...?

My uni did cover the cost of the assessment though...

jp2031

GlasweJen wrote: »

You would need a full colourimeter assessment, in central scotland you can get one done at the caledonian university or at black and lizars in Milngavie or black and lizars near Silverknowes in Edinburgh. The results for your lenses wont be the same as the overlays.

In terms of funding you can't get NHS funding for the lenses but if you're a student who is getting a disabled student allowance you can claim coloured glasses back through SAAS (and i imagine the English equivilent) only if your needs assessment has noted Irlens syndrome and recommended coloured lenses or your educational psychology report recommends the use of coloured lenses.

The assessment cost me £50 in 2005, the waiting list (at caledonian) was 7 weeks, shorter for B&L in Edinburgh but the caledonian lady was more qualified. I was not able to claim the £50 assessment back from SAAS.

ETA I bloody hate my glasses and just cut one of my overlays into 2 A5 sized ones which is more discrete. Work also pay for coloured paper for me to print onto which I use when I can to reduce eye stress.

Wow haha, im studying at caledonian university. When I'm in next I'll ask about getting the test. Not too bad If i can claim the money for the glasses back through saas. Guess i'll ask my gran to pay for them then give her the money back lol, cant afford them

Indie_Kid

bestpud wrote: »

I'd pay for tinted lenses but as I have other eye problems, they cannot guarantee they will work without trying and it's a lot of money for an experiment!

This is what's putting me off. I got new glasses in April and think I need them again now, too. Don't really fancy paying out £300+ every 6-12 months just for glasses.

I have been told that they won't help much; due to the complex nature of my other eye problems.

I was told DSA won't cover the cost in England. I don't know if I was wrongly informed or it is different here...?

I got told they did. Don't understand how though - because they are something that would be used outside education.

If I did get the glasses, apparently, I'd have to travel up to Gloucester (I live in Plymouth) to be tested and get them. Bit too far to get a pair of glasses, I think.

nannytone_2

just having a tint put on glasses shouldnt cost that much!

i have R P and require a tint, and it never costs mnore than £30

GlasweJen

Irlens requires specific coloured tints, mine was a really strange shade of blue/purple, regular blue sunglasses did nothing for me.

Bestspud, SAAS gave me £250 for my glasses, they wouldn't pay for the assessment as that was "diagnostic" but it was on my needs assessment under Irlens syndrome. I was told at the time that if the glasses were to be worn all the time to help with balance/co-ordination then there's no funding, if the glasses are soley for reading/writing then there is funding.

JP you need to apply for DSA, get the money from SAAS and then buy them and send the receipt back, don't buy them before SAAS have ok'd them because it's a lot of money to shell out. Student services will be able to get you a needs assessment.

Indie_Kid

nannytone wrote: »

just having a tint put on glasses shouldnt cost that much!

i have R P and require a tint, and it never costs mnore than £30

I was told by someone that if I know what colour tint I need, (I don't) then I could just go into an opticians and get a tint that way.

Although I don't think many colours are available.

jp2031

GlasweJen wrote: »

Irlens requires specific coloured tints, mine was a really strange shade of blue/purple, regular blue sunglasses did nothing for me.

Bestspud, SAAS gave me £250 for my glasses, they wouldn't pay for the assessment as that was "diagnostic" but it was on my needs assessment under Irlens syndrome. I was told at the time that if the glasses were to be worn all the time to help with balance/co-ordination then there's no funding, if the glasses are soley for reading/writing then there is funding.

JP you need to apply for DSA, get the money from SAAS and then buy them and send the receipt back, don't buy them before SAAS have ok'd them because it's a lot of money to shell out. Student services will be able to get you a needs assessment.

But get diagnosed first yea?
Thanks