New research highlights a clear gap in provision, with most patients who seek help passed between several professionals before receiving an explanation.

• 72% of UK adults believe visual stress screening should be part of routine eye checks for children.
• Of those who sought help for symptoms, more than half (55%) consulted two or more professionals before receiving an explanation and one in twenty (5%) are still searching.
• Visual stress is estimated to affect around one in five people, the majority of whom remain undiagnosed.
   

14 July 2026 – New research from Cerium Visual Technologies has revealed strong public appetite for visual stress assessment for children, alongside a significant gap in how the condition is identified. The survey of 2,000 UK parents found that nearly three in four (72%) believe visual stress screening should form part of routine eye checks for children.

The research also highlights how patients struggle to get answers. Among those who had sought professional advice or support for symptoms - such as words that blur, move or jump on the page, or headaches when reading - more than half (55%) had consulted two or more professionals before receiving an explanation. One in twenty (5%) said they are still searching for one.

With visual stress undetectable by a standard eye test, the findings suggest a substantial pool of patients moving through the system without a clear diagnosis, and a growing public expectation that eye care professionals should be equipped to help.

“For practitioners, these numbers put data behind something many will already suspect,” said Claire Millar, Managing Director of Cerium Visual Technologies. “There are patients who know something isn’t right, but who are being passed from person to person without anyone joining the dots. Because visual stress is not picked up by a standard eye test, unless a practice is set up to assess for it, these patients can go years without an answer. The practice that finally provides one is the practice those families remember and return to.”

“What is striking is the level of public support for making this part of routine children’s eye care,” she added. “That tells practices the demand is already there. For an independent looking to differentiate, offering colorimetry is a way to meet a genuine clinical need and build a loyal patient base at the same time.”

The symptoms of visual stress can take an enormous toll. Among children whose parents reported symptoms - such as words blurring or moving on the page – four in five (80%) said it had affected their child’s daily life, most often their performance at school (31%), their confidence (28%) and their anxiety about school (23%). Adults were affected too: of those reporting symptoms, more than half (55%) said it had had an impact, including on their performance at work (15%) and, for some, their choice of career (7%).

Visual stress can be assessed using the Intuitive Colorimeter – known as the Wave – developed and manufactured by Cerium. The instrument tests up to 10,000 colour combinations to identify the precise tint that eases an individual patient’s symptoms. The assessment can be delegated to trained support staff rather than requiring an optometrist to carry it out directly, making it operationally efficient within a busy practice.

Optical practices interested in offering visual stress assessment can find out more about the Intuitive Colorimeter and becoming a Cerium specialist practice at ceriumvistech.com.