The Snellen Test Card

/.../

Better Eyesight
A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Prevention and Cure of Imperfect
Sight Without Glasses
Copyright, 1921, by the Central Fixation Publishing Company
Editor, W. H. Bates, M. D.
Publisher, Central Fixation Publishing Company
Vol. VIII. - August, 1923 - No. 2

——
The Snellen Test Card
——
The Snellen Test Card is used for testing the eyesight. It is usually
placed about 20 feet away from the patient. He covers each eye
alternately, and reads the card as well as he can. Each line is
numbered with a figure which indicates the distance that it should be
read with the normal eye. When the vision is recorded it is written
in the form of a fraction. The numerator being the distance of the
patient from the card, and the denominator denoting the line read.
For example:—If a patient at 10 feet can only read the line marked 100
the vision is written 10/100 or 1/10. If the patient at 20 feet can
read the line marked 10 the vision is recorded as 20/10 which means
that the sight is double that of the average eye. Reading the Snellen
Test Card daily helps the sight. Children in a public school with
normal eyes under 12 years of age, who have never worn glasses were
improved immediately by practicing with the Snellen Test Card.
Children with imperfect sight also improved, and with the help of
someone with perfect sight in time the vision becomes normal without
glasses. School children oftentimes are very much interested in their
eyesight and what can be accomplished with the help of the Snellen
Test Card. They have contests among themselves to see who can read
the card best in a bright light, or on a rainy day when the light is
dim. Many of them find out for themselves that straining, makes the
sight worse, while palming and swinging improve their vision. Many of
them become able to use the Snellen Test Card in such a way as to
relieve or prevent nervousness and headaches. Many boards of
education hesitate to be responsible for any benefit that may be
derived from the Snellen cards in the schools.

/.../

Nothing to see here.

Move along....