Optometry's involvement in the management of reading disabilities is often misunderstood. This paper clarifies the confusion surrounding specific reading disabilities and optometric vision therapy in the management of them. Topics include a historical review of dyslexia, theories of brain function, and a neuroanatomical model, as well as operational definitions and behavioral characteristics of the types of dyslexia. Methods for direct diagnosis of coding deficits in specific reading disability (dyslexia) are discussed. This approach explains the beneficial role of optometric vision therapy in the management of patients with reading problems.