Vision Test
The Japanese vision check is different from the standard eye chart that I was used to seeing (or not seeing) in America. It’s also different from the fake “Japanese Eye Test” that was hanging in my American optometrist’s offices. I mean, it looked cool, because it used easy kanji (Chinese characters adopted for use in Japanese, for those who keep seeing that on my site and don’t know what it means 
) for numbers, animals, and weather – but I haven’t seen it used here in reality. I’m sure that somewhere they really do use kanji to test visual acuity, but not in Japan to my knowledge. Instead, they use a really cool, easy to understand chart.
Standard chart used in America – The Snellen Chart
Standard chart used in Japan – 視力検査 (Landolt Chart)
They use circles of decreasing size with a small bite taken out of it. The aim is to locate the hole in the circle and name the direction that it indicates. Hole is at the top? Say “up.” Hole is to the right? Say “right.” It’s foolproof answering. No letter confusion. It reminds me of the modified children’s charts that we use sometimes in pediatric offices and school nurse offices – you know, the ones that contain the letter E pointing in different directions? I’m pretty sure that all of these charts originated in Europe, but it’s mere conjecture. Haven’t actually read anything on them. I guess that’s because I don’t care about their origins – I just think that they look cool. Anyhoo – I just had my first surprise Japanese eye exam, hearing test, and height measurement. The nurse pulled rank and we all had to jump when she said jump. It went smoothly. You’ll all be thrilled to know that I am 180 cm tall officially (I have been saying 179 cm in introductions, but it was a guess), I have perfect hearing in high and low ranges (I’m an audiophile, so that is good news), and my vision with my glasses is spot on. Yay! Have you ever seen a different, more interesting vision test? If so, link us up. Thanks. Just thought it was interesting.
