We investigate the linear and nonlinear optical responses of dilute anisotropic networks using Green’s function formalism [Gu Y et al 1999 Phys. Rev. B 59 12847]. For different applied fields, numerical calculations indicate that a large third-order nonlinear enhancement and a broad infrared absorption arise from the geometric anisotropy. We also show the overlap and separation between the absorption peak and nonlinear enhancement peak when the applied field is parallel and perpendicular to the anisotropy, respectively. The results can be understood in terms of the inverse participation ratios with q = 2 and the spectral distribution of optical responses.