LEA Symbols Pocket Near Card - Free Printable

The image shows a Lea Symbols Visual Acuity Chart, commonly used in eye exams, especially for children or individuals who cannot read traditional letter charts. This chart uses simple geometric symbols instead of letters to assess visual acuity.

Let’s break down the key components and explain how it works:

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🔍 Overview of the Lea Symbols Chart

- Developed by: Lea Hyvärinen, M.D.
- Purpose: To test visual acuity in young children or non-readers.
- Testing Distance: Designed for use at 16 inches (40 cm) — this is important because visual acuity values depend on testing distance.
- Symbols Used:
- Square
- Circle
- House
- Heart

These symbols are easy to recognize even by very young children.

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🧩 Chart Layout

#### ✔ Front Side (Left Panel)
- The front side contains individual symbols arranged in rows from largest (top) to smallest (bottom).
- Each row corresponds to a specific visual acuity level.
- The symbols decrease in size as you go down the chart.
- At the bottom of each row, there are visual acuity values listed in both:
- Snellen notation (e.g., 20/40)
- Decimal notation (e.g., 0.5)
- Distance equivalents in feet and meters

> Example:
> - Top row: 20/40 → means if you can see the symbol at 20 feet, a person with normal vision would see it at 40 feet.
> - Decimal equivalent: 0.5 → indicates 50% of normal visual acuity.

#### ✔ Back Side (Right Panel)
- The back side features symbol sequences (arrays) where the patient must identify which symbol is different or matches a target.
- These are used for more advanced testing or when assessing recognition under varied conditions.
- The sequences get progressively smaller and harder to distinguish.
- Also includes visual acuity levels and distances.

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📊 How It Works

1. Patient sits at 16 inches (40 cm) from the chart.
2. The examiner points to one of the symbols.
3. The patient names the shape (square, circle, house, heart).
4. The smallest row the patient can correctly identify determines their visual acuity.

> For example:
> - If a child can only identify the largest symbols (like the top row), their visual acuity might be 20/40 or 0.5.
> - If they can identify the smallest symbols (bottom row), they may have 20/10 or 2.0 visual acuity (which is better than average).

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⚠️ Important Notes

- Not all patients need to see every symbol — accuracy depends on age and development.
- The chart is often used alongside other tools like cover tests or refraction.
- Good-Lite® is the manufacturer shown here, and the product number is #250900.

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🧠 Why Use Symbol Charts?

- Ideal for children under 3–4 years old who haven’t learned to read.
- Useful for non-English speakers or those with cognitive impairments.
- Provides reliable results without requiring verbal skills.

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✔ Summary

This is a Lea Symbols Visual Acuity Chart designed for close-range testing (16 inches) using four simple shapes:
- Square
- Circle
- House
- Heart

It allows accurate measurement of visual acuity in young children or non-readers. The front side has individual symbols for identification; the back side has pattern-based tasks for more complex assessment.

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If you're using this chart clinically, ensure proper lighting, correct viewing distance, and that the patient is not squinting or tilting their head.

Let me know if you'd like help interpreting a specific result or understanding a particular row!