The future of learning: how Vis-CAT detects visual processing issues before it’s too late

In primary education, early intervention is the key to success. However, thousands of children go undiagnosed with visual processing issues, an often invisible challenge that directly affects their ability to learn. The result? Years of lost potential, often misattributed to behavioral or learning disabilities.

Enter Vis-CAT, the digital tool that is changing the game for early childhood development by enabling rapid, precise identification of visual cognition issues.

Visual processing challenges are not well understood, and their symptoms often mimic other difficulties. For children who struggle to interpret visual information, every school day can feel like a series of insurmountable hurdles. Teachers, parents and even healthcare professionals frequently misdiagnose these children, leading to ineffective interventions and escalating frustration.

What’s even more troubling is the sheer number of children who never receive the right diagnosis at all. These children face prolonged educational struggles, while the real cause of their difficulties remains undetected.

This is where Vis-CAT steps in to make an immediate, lasting impact.

Vis-CAT's innovation lies in its digital-first approach to assessing visual cognition. As the first-of-its-kind digital screening tool, Vis-CAT provides early and accurate identification of visual processing issues in young children. Leveraging advanced technology, it blends validated scientific testing methods with a user-friendly interface, offering the potential for mass adoption in schools, clinics and even at home.

The game-like platform engages children through interactive play, making the experience enjoyable while ensuring results that are both reliable and actionable. This approach not only assists in allowing earlier referral pathways for children who need it, but also provides educators and parents with the crucial information they need to make targeted interventions early.

"By the time most visual processing issues are identified, children are often already at a disadvantage," says Christine Nearchou, Founder of Vis-CAT. "Our goal is to change this reality by catching problems early, enabling children to thrive in their learning environments from the start."

Christine Nearchou's passion for improving educational outcomes stems from her 30 plus years as an expert clinician in paediatric eye health and vision scientist, seeing children with long-standing learning difficulties that stemmed from undiagnosed visual processing problems. Recognising that many children fall through the cracks of the current diagnostic systems, and with her background in vision science, Christine set out to create a tool that could detect issues early and accurately.

Today, Vis-CAT is more than an assessment tool – it represents a shift in how we understand and support childhood learning and development.

Historically, access to assessments for visual processing issues has been limited – especially in rural and underserved areas. However, Vis-CAT’s digital platform allows these assessments to be administered anywhere, from remote schools to urban settings, closing a critical gap in the healthcare and education systems.

This ability to scale ensures that every child, no matter their background, has the opportunity to be diagnosed early and receive timely interventions. It also positions Vis-CAT as a solution not just for local implementation, but for global adoption, making it a compelling opportunity for investors looking to back innovations that deliver wide-reaching societal impact.

“We want to democratise access to high-quality assessments,” Christine says. “Every child deserves a fair chance at a quality education, and Vis-CAT ensures no one is left behind.”

Vis-CAT’s approach is firmly rooted in evidence-based research, ensuring credibility in both academic and professional settings. Under Christine’s leadership, the platform has been developed and refined in partnership with leading experts in paediatric eyecare and education, reinforcing its scientific validity.

Christine is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, with Fellowships in key optometry organisations. She has built a network of partners who are eager to integrate Vis-CAT into early primary education programs.