Colored overlays or lenses (e.g., Irlen lenses) have been used in attempts to remediate reading difficulties. The present study included four middle-socioeconomic status (SES) adults and four middle-SES children with reading disabilities as well as an equal number of nondisabled readers of the same age groups and SES. Examined were (a) the relationship of wavelength (lens color) to visual grating performance, (b) the effect of reading disability on performance with each lens-color/luminosity-grating combination, (c) group performances on a visual detection task with the clear and chromatic lenses, and (d) peripheral retinal brightness thresholds. The spatial frequency of the gratings (and not the lens color) permitted subjects with reading disabilities to be differentiated from the proficient readers. Subjects with reading disabilities displayed significantly lower contrast sensitivity when tested with sine-wave gratings, as well as displaying higher brightness thresholds in the peripheral retina.