Are you writing ‘Less than 6/60?’ Dont do it! Download printable Snellen letters here!
Over the last few weeks we have been covering a few teaching sessions for the Routine Exam for the Final Assessment. A number of students were happily recording <6/60 when the unaided vision dropped below the top letter of the Snellen chart.
A discussion then followed. Whilst all appreciated the importance of recording the vision accurately, few were keen to move the patient from the consulting room chair to a 3m distance.
It was then suggested that what would be needed is a single 6/60 sized letter pasted onto the back of their clip board so that they could quickly and efficiently hold this at a 3m or 2m working distance.
This has been mentioned several times recently so, without much further ado – Printable Snellen 6/60 letters
Please download and copy to your heart’s content. But for argument’s sake, follow the instructions for best results:
For best results:
- For maximum contrast, use an Inkjet printer and set to ‘Best Quality’ in Properties in the Printer menu. (The contrast will not be high enough if you use a LaserJet printer).
- In your Printer menu make sure that the option of ‘Print Scaling’ is set to ‘None.’
- When printed the height of the letters should measure 87.3 mm
- Laminate the letters with a matt laminate pouch to avoid veiling glare.



MAry Russell // May 10, 2009 at 3:06 pm
LOGMAR for fairness to those clients with low acuity. Doing this whilst innovative just emphasises the unairness of the test. 10/05/2009
Amy // Mar 26, 2010 at 8:58 pm
is less than 3/60 acceptable?
Jane Macnaughton // Mar 29, 2010 at 9:00 am
Mary – I wholeheartedly agree. However, not all UK consulting rooms have LogMAR charts. And for the purpose of the professional exams an emphasis on an accurate measure of acuity is the point here. I would love to see a LogMAR in all rooms but we are a long way off from there.
Jane Macnaughton // Mar 29, 2010 at 9:01 am
No. You must always record an accurate level of acuity. The difference between 3/60 and Hand Movements is a very large drop – how else would you know whether the vision in your patient had changed between successive visits?
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