Construction and Validation of LEA Hindi Chart: A Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Vision Science

Background:

• Visual acuity charts are essential tools for assessing vision.
• Standard charts may not be suitable for all language demographics.
• Developing culturally and linguistically appropriate charts is crucial for accurate eye care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct and validate a new logMAR (logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution) Hindi visual acuity chart, named the LEA Hindi chart.
• To ensure the chart's principles align with established methods like the LEA symbols acuity chart.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study involving Hindi optotype construction using calligraphy.
• Calibration of Hindi optotypes against Landolt C optotypes.
• Validation of the LEA Hindi chart against the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) and Landolt C charts in 60 participants.
• Repeatability testing with an additional 15 participants.

Main Results:

• The LEA Hindi chart demonstrated comparable visual acuity measurements to both Landolt C and ETDRS charts.
• LogMAR acuity differences were minimal and statistically insignificant (0.03 ± 0.13 for Landolt C, -0.02 ± 0.09 for ETDRS).
• The chart exhibited good repeatability, with 95% limits of agreement within 0.24 logMAR.

Conclusions:

• The LEA Hindi visual acuity chart is a valid and reliable tool for assessing vision in Hindi-speaking individuals.
• Its performance is comparable to established international standards (ETDRS, Landolt C).
• The chart is suitable for routine clinical use and research studies requiring repeated visual acuity measurements.