Eye Chart

These are samples of questions or tasks used in an eye test here in Japan. Usually, there are rows of circles with a piece missing in each. You must tell where the missing piece is. Top, bottom, left or right. The doctor may point to the circle and ask or the doctor may tell you the line to "read". The doctor would then say "next" after you tell about each circle.

Small children hold up a finger and point where the gap is. They point to the ceiling if the gap is at the top, to the floor if the gap is at the bottom, etc.

This sheet shows some hiragana, one of the writing systems for Japanese. The character next to the top circle is yo. I have been given an eye test with hiragana. I think the circle test is more accurate. It is almost impossible to guess where the missing piece is. I remember being able to guess the letters in an American eye test.

Can you guess what the letters are in an eye chart even if they are blurry?

Children's eyes are checked at school. If there is a problem with the results, they are given a slip of paper recommending that they see an eye doctor for a more thorough test. So far, Little Brother and Big Sister haven't had any trouble passing the school eye exam. Recently, I get my eyes checked at a frame shop where they use a machine that automatically measures my eyesight.

Check this post to see a complete eye chart that is used at the doctor's office. It was used in an ad.

Kids Web Japan--language