LogMAR Word Reading Chart

Historical Significance: Ian Bailey and Jan Lovie devised the LogMAR visual acuity chart, which has become the standard visual acuity chart throughout the world. They then addressed the issue of a standardised reading vision chart using the same principles of logarithmic progression of size, proportional spacing between lines and letters. The design was published in 1980 Bailey IL, Lovie JE. The design and use of a new near-vision chart. m J Optom Physiol Opt. 1980 Jun;57(6):378-87. Ian Bailey was the first full-time researcher in the National Vision Research Institute having previously been Clinic Administrator and lecturer in the Australian College of Optometry. He was a graduate of the College in 1961. Jan Lovie was his graduate student in the NVRI. For more information on Ian Bailey and his colourful career see his profile in Clin Exp Optom: Adams AJ, Lovie-Kitchin J. Ian L Bailey Clin Exp Optom 2004; 87: 37-41 also on this web site under the tab people who made history. Jan Lovie became Jan Lovie-Kitchin and was a senior academic at the Queensland University of Technology and a leader in low vision care. See her profile: Cole BL. Jan Lovie-Kitchin. Clin Exp Optom 2007: 90: 214-216. For information about the LogMAR chart see: Bailey IL, Lovie JE. New design principles for visual acuity letter charts. Am J Optom Physiol Opt. 1976 Nov;53(11):740-5. See Cat no. 3268 for a collection of papers and artefacts relating to the development of these charts