• Use Snellen’s eye chart composed of letters, capital E letters, or pictures.
• Select proper chart based on age and development of patient.
• Explain procedure to patient.
• Give patient eye occluder and tell patient to hold over nontested eye and not to close or squint that eye.
• Have patient stand 20 feet from eye chart.
• If patient wears glasses or contacts, he or she should wear them for the examination.
• Usually test right eye first, then left eye.
• Have patient start with the 20/70 line and continue down each line.
• The number to the side of the smallest line is the patient’s results for that eye.
• Repeat with left eye.

Rotating “E” Snellen Chart (From Eagle S, Brassington C, Dailey C, Goretti C. The Professional Medical Assistant. F.A. Davis, Philadelphia, 2009; 764, with permission.)