World Sight Day: Nearly one in three people without symptoms show findings requiring further assessment

World Sight Day: Nearly one in three people without symptoms show findings requiring further assessment

• Undetected findings: 29% of participants without symptoms show findings in the screening that require further assessment

• Age as a risk factor: Among participants aged over 60, this proportion rises to 61%

• Preventive care gap: 81% of participants had not seen an ophthalmologist for more than two years or had never had an eye examination

• Clinical findings: At least one clinical abnormality was identified in 14% of all participants

To mark World Sight Day on 8 October, Mister Spex, together with Skleo Health, is publishing a new edition of its 2026 Eye Health Report. The report is based on an analysis of 13,986 professional eye health screenings conducted over several months at more than 60 Mister Spex stores across Germany. The findings reveal a clear discrepancy between how people perceive their eye health and what can be detected objectively. Nearly one in three people who reported no symptoms prior to the examination nevertheless showed findings requiring further assessment. This discrepancy becomes particularly pronounced with increasing age.

Risk increases significantly with age

The report shows a clear age-related pattern. Among younger adults without symptoms, almost one in five show findings requiring further assessment. In the middle age group, this rises to almost one in three, while among those aged over 60, well over half are affected.

The prevalence of clinical abnormalities also increases significantly with age. Overall, at least one clinical abnormality was identified in 14% of all participants. The proportion rises from 5% among 18- to 40-year-olds to 15% among 41- to 60-year-olds and 41% among those aged over 60. The most common findings included reduced visual acuity as well as abnormalities that may indicate drusen or glaucoma.

"The results show that people often overestimate their eyesight. Many assume that having no symptoms means there is no risk. Yet changes in the eye can develop gradually and remain unnoticed for a long time. This is why preventive care needs to begin well before people experience a noticeable decline in vision," says Joëlle Jenny, Optician and District Manager at Mister Spex.

A significant gap in preventive eye care

The findings also highlight a substantial gap in preventive eye care. Four in five participants had not seen an ophthalmologist for more than two years or had never had an eye examination. Even among those aged over 60, only around one in four had attended an ophthalmological check-up within the previous two years.

Regular preventive care is particularly important because many eye diseases develop gradually and cause no symptoms in their early stages. "Most eye diseases are painless and remain asymptomatic, particularly in their early stages. Without early diagnosis, many patients do not seek medical attention until irreversible vision loss has already occurred," says Dr Steffen E. Künzel, physician in ophthalmology and Co-Founder of Skleo Health.

Accessible preventive care with a clear pathway to specialist follow up

Together with Skleo Health, Mister Spex offers eye health checks in its stores. These include measuring visual acuity in both eyes and analysing retinal images for abnormalities that may indicate conditions such as glaucoma, age related macular degeneration, drusen, optic nerve abnormalities and diabetic retinopathy.

Effective preventive care also depends on what happens after an abnormal result is identified. Where further assessment is required, people can be connected directly with specialist ophthalmology care through the Skleo Health platform. Skleo works with a nationwide network of ophthalmologists and, if requested, can facilitate the booking of timely appointments. This creates a continuous care pathway, from accessible identification of potential abnormalities in store through to specialist medical assessment.

Against the backdrop of high demand for specialist care, this approach can help address an important gap. People gain straightforward access to preventive screening and, where abnormalities are identified, can be directed efficiently towards appropriate medical follow up. The screening does not replace an ophthalmological diagnosis. Its purpose is to identify potential issues at an early stage and determine whether further medical assessment is advisable.

The full 2026 Eye Health Report is available here.

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