Educational Guide

Visual Symptoms Checklist

These questions are designed to help you reflect on visual comfort, reading, and eye coordination symptoms. This checklist is for general awareness only and is not a diagnostic tool. If any of these symptoms feel familiar, you may benefit from speaking with an eyecare professional or booking a behavioural optometry assessment.

Common Symptoms People Sometimes Experience

Physical Comfort

Eyes that feel tired, strained, sore, or uncomfortable
Headaches during or after reading
Sensitivity to glare, screens, or bright light
Difficulty maintaining comfort during prolonged screen use
Squinting or covering one eye while reading
Feeling visually fatigued at the end of the day

Reading & Concentration

Losing your place while reading
Re-reading lines or words frequently
Difficulty maintaining concentration while reading
Reading feeling more effortful than expected
Skipping words or lines accidentally
Difficulty copying from a board or screen
Reduced reading enjoyment due to visual discomfort

Visual Stability & Focus

Intermittent blur after reading
Words appearing to move or shift on the page
Needing to use a finger or marker while reading
Difficulty refocusing between near and far objects
Occasional double vision during close work
Moving closer to reading material over time

Recognise any of these symptoms?

This checklist cannot tell you whether you have a vision problem, but it may help you decide whether to seek professional advice. Book an assessment to discuss your symptoms with an optometrist.

Book an Assessment

Why These Symptoms Matter

Visual symptoms can sometimes reflect how efficiently the visual system is functioning during sustained tasks such as reading, screen work, focusing, or eye coordination.

Identifying contributing factors early may help support visual comfort, performance, and day-to-day functioning.

Important Information

This symptom checklist is for general information, guidance, and awareness only. It is not intended to diagnose, screen for, treat, cure, or prevent any vision, learning, or health-related condition. It should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you are concerned about your symptoms, please seek professional advice.