The tumbling E chart features the same scale as a standard Snellen eye chart, except all characters on the chart are a capital letter “E,” rotated in different increments of 90 degrees.ĭuring a tumbling E test, the eye doctor will ask the person being tested to use either hand (with their fingers extended) to show which direction the “fingers” of the E are pointing: right, left, up or down. The patient has a handicap that makes it difficult or impossible to recognize letters or read them aloud. This test may be used in the following scenarios:Ī young child is having an eye test and either doesn’t know the alphabet or is too shy to read letters aloud.

In these situations, the doctor might use a modification of the Snellen test called a “ tumbling E ” chart. Sometimes eye doctors can’t use a standard Snellen eye chart.

If you can read the bottom row of letters, your visual acuity (sharpness) is very good.ĭownload a Snellen eye chart “Tumbling E” eye chart Lower rows that also contain letters, but get progressively smaller.ĭuring an eye exam, your eye doctor will ask you to find the smallest line of letters you can read, then ask you to read it. Most of them include:Ī top row with only one letter, often a big “E.” Other letters can also be used. Today, there are many variations of the Snellen test. How a Snellen chart and a 'tumbling E' chart might look at your eye doctor's office.

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