Importance of optometrists in retinoblastoma detection emphasised by charity

Optometrists are “a vital part of the pathway to diagnosis” for children with retinoblastoma, the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust said

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Lucy Miller

12 May 2025

The importance of High Street optometry in detecting and diagnosing retinoblastoma is being emphasised during World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week 2025 (11–17 May).

In 2024, more than one in six children later diagnosed with retinoblastoma were initially taken to their optometrist, the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) has revealed.

Three quarters (75%) of optometrists who examined a child with retinoblastoma made urgent onward referrals, CHECT said.

The charity noted that one child is diagnosed with retinoblastoma every week in the UK.

The condition mainly occurs in babies and in children up to the age of six. It represents 3% of all childhood cancers and 10% of cancers in babies under the age of one in the UK.

“Optometrists are consistently a vital part of the pathway to diagnosis for children with this condition,” CHECT said.

The charity noted that the most common symptom reported by parents of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma is leukocoria (when a pupil reflects yellow, grey or white rather than red), noticed either in the eye itself or in photos where a flash has been used.

This symptom was seen in 78% of cases observed during its 2024 research, CHECT said.

New onset strabismus (30%), change in the colour of the child’s iris (8%), loss of vision (8%), and the child not being able to focus (8%) were also noted.

Less common symptoms included redness or swelling without infection (7%) and absence of red eye in photographs (1%).

The figures were gathered from the parents of 38 children diagnosed with retinoblastoma in 2024, as part of CHECT’s long-term Pathway to Diagnosis work.

Richard Ashton, the charity’s chief executive, said: “It is really positive to see so many parents consulting their local optometrist with concerns about their child’s eyes.

“We know that when children are examined by an optometrist, they have an excellent chance of the signs of retinoblastoma being spotted and the correct referrals made.”

More information on retinoblastoma can be found on the CHECT website.

For information on signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, see the ‘Information for Professionals’ page of the CHECT website.