Grow and See

17/09/2026

Looking forward to this event:

A significant conversation. At a significant venue.

Visual stress can affect how people experience the world around them, from text and electronic screens to lighting and the built environment.

Science+ at The Royal Society is bringing together researchers and professionals to explore the neurological origins of visual stress and the implications for inclusivity, health and future development.

16/09/2026

🪽Thoughts are with little Noah and his family . Such a devestating outcome 😢

15/09/2026

📖📝Struggling to read under bright fluorescent lights, seeing words float or blur on the page, and battling constant headaches aren't just physical hurdles—they take a massive toll on a student's confidence.

When learning takes twice the effort for half the result, it is easy for students at school or college to feel like they are falling behind through some fault of their own.

Visual Stress (Meares-Irlen Syndrome) often goes unnoticed, but getting a proper assessment can completely transform a student's educational journey.

Why an Assessment Changes Everything

• Clear Diagnosis: A specialized Visual Stress assessment pinpoints exact sensory triggers, validating the student's experience and proving that their reading difficulties stem from how the brain processes light, not a lack of capability or effort. 💡

• Tailored Accommodations: The assessment provides a detailed report outlining precise visual aids—such as specific colored overlays or tinted precision lenses—that immediately reduce visual distortion and fatigue. 👓

• Formal Support Plan: The report supplies school or college accessibility teams with the evidence needed to implement formal reasonable adjustments.


Unlocking a student's potential starts with removing the invisible barriers holding them back. If reading causes discomfort or fatigue, booking a Visual Stress assessment is the first step toward restoring clarity, comfort, and self-belief in the classroom.

11/09/2026

🎒 Back to school? Look for the signs of visual stress.

As children return to school, reading, writing and screen time increase. For some, this can lead to visual discomfort or visual stress.

Look out for signs such as:

• Headaches or tiredness when reading
• Losing their place or skipping words
• Avoiding or becoming restless during reading
• Difficulty concentrating on text 
• Describes words moving on the page

These signs can have many causes, so a comprehensive eye examination should always be the starting point.

For parents, if reading regularly feels uncomfortable for your child, speak to your optometrist.

For practices, September is a great time to look for the signs, ask the right questions and know when further assessment may be appropriate.

This September, look beyond how a child reads - consider how reading feels.

VisualComfort

03/09/2026

Transforming reading from a source of anxiety into a moment of confidence is why I love the work I do. 📖🌈

Today, I carried out a Visual Stress Assessment for a child who has been struggling with high anxiety around reading and their return to school.

Already having a dyslexia diagnosis in place; dyslexic individuals frequently experience visual stress as well -a perceptual condition where printed text appears distorted, blurred, or uncomfortable to look at.

When dyslexia and visual stress overlap, reading takes double the effort, leading to quick fatigue, frustration, and a drop in self-esteem.

By testing different coloured filters, we found their ideal combination: Lilac + Purple.

Using this specific colour combination, text distortions vanished. Their reading speed increased, and fluency smoothed out noticeably right in front of us.

With the new school term starting, my biggest hope is that this simple tool plus other adaptations recommended in my report, takes the physical strain away, eases their anxiety, and helps rebuild the reading confidence they truly deserve.

Has your child tried coloured overlays for reading?
Ask about visual stress and dyslexia in the comments below!

03/09/2026

If anyone would be interested in participating in this study let me know

** NEW STUDY! **

Could your patient or child be taking part in research that could help improve our understanding of visual stress?

📚 The ARUTIS Study is a new randomised controlled trial being conducted by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)in Cambridge, investigating the use of the Intuitive Colorimetry System for young people experiencing symptoms of visual stress and reading difficulties.

Visual stress can affect the way some people experience words and text. Symptoms can include:

👀 Difficulty focusing on words

🔤 Words appearing to move or merge

〰️ Seeing patterns, shadows or a 3D effect in text

📖 Letters appearing to fade or darken

🤕 Headaches when reading

☀️ Pages appearing uncomfortably bright

The study is now seeking participants aged 9–18 who experience reading difficulties and may have symptoms of visual stress.

This is an important opportunity to contribute to the growing evidence base in this area and support ongoing research.

Are you a parent or young person who might be interested?

Or are you an optometry practice with patients who may be suitable?

Please share this opportunity or contact us directly for more information.

Participants must meet the study's eligibility criteria, and further testing will be required to establish whether they have visual stress.

Optometry OptometryResearch ChildrensVision EyeCare Research RandomisedControlledTrial

02/09/2026

Is your child struggling with the back-to-school transition? 📖😢

When a child resists going back to school, complains of headaches, avoids reading, or loses their place on the page, the root cause isn't always behavioral—it could be Visual Stress.

Visual Stress (sometimes called Meares-Irlen Syndrome) makes processing printed text exhausting.

Words/ numbers may appear to move, blur, or glare on the white page, leading to quick fatigue, frustration, and a painful drop in classroom confidence.

When learning feels like an uphill battle every single day, it’s completely natural for a child to feel anxious about school.

How Grow and See can help:

• Identify the root cause: A specialized Visual Stress assessment pinpoints difficulties that standard eye exams often miss.

• Tailored solutions: Precision tinted lenses coloured overlays and other adjustments can instantly calm the page, making reading comfortable and fluid.

• Rebuild confidence: By removing the physical discomfort of reading, children regain their enthusiasm for learning and feel empowered in the classroom.

Help your child step into the new school term with comfort and confidence.

Book a Visual Stress assessment with Grow and See today:

30/08/2026

27/08/2026

Why do we experience Visual Stress?

24/08/2026

Visual Stress affects people of all ages.
You may have been battling Visual Stress your whole life.
Get in touch to find out more and book your assessment