Purpose: To compare two different optotypes to measure visual acuity.
Methods: Experiment 1: Fifty patients with moderate cataracts were asked to read a chart consisting of letters of the alphabet (Sloan letters) first and a chart comprising Landolt's broken rings afterwards. Experiment 2: Half of patients were instructed to repeat the reading with a second letter chart, the other half was instructed to read the chart with the broken rings again.
Results and conclusions: Experiment 1: It was found that with the letter chart more optotypes (two to four) were recognized than with the broken ring chart. The different result of visual acuity measurement with the two optotypes is irrespective of the visual acuity. Experiment 2: The re-read instruction revealed that the measurements were reproduced equally for both charts.