Test Your Own Vision
Make a simple eye chart, test your vision at home using printed letters or symbols at set distances, record results, and learn about eyesight.
Step-by-step guide to Test Your Own Vision
Four educational eye experiments your kids can try at home
Step 1
Gather all the materials on a table so they are easy to reach.
Step 2
Draw an eye chart by making six lines of letters or simple symbols that get smaller from the top line to the bottom line.
Step 3
Trace over each letter or symbol with the dark marker so they are bold and easy to see from afar.
Step 4
Number each line from 1 at the top to 6 at the bottom so you can record which line you read.
Step 5
Tape the chart to a wall at about your eye level using the masking tape so it stays flat and visible.
Step 6
Measure 3 meters or 10 feet from the wall and put a piece of tape on the floor to mark where to sit for the test.
Step 7
Sit on the chair at the floor mark and cover your left eye with your hand or an index card so only your right eye sees the chart.
Step 8
Read aloud the smallest line you can clearly see and write the line number and any missed letters in your notebook.
Step 9
Cover your right eye and repeat reading the smallest line you can clearly see and write that line number in your notebook.
Step 10
Uncover both eyes and read the smallest line you can clearly see and note that line number in your notebook.
Step 11
Take a photo or write a short note about your eye chart and test results and share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a dark marker, masking tape, or a measuring tape for the 3 m/10 ft distance?
If you don't have a dark marker use a black crayon, thick pencil, or print letters from a computer, replace masking tape with painter's tape or poster putty to tape the chart at eye level, and mark the 3 m/10 ft spot using footsteps (about 10 normal adult steps) or a rope instead of a measuring tape.
What should we do if the letters are hard to see or the chart keeps curling on the wall during the test?
If letters are hard to see, retrace each letter with the dark marker and increase contrast by moving the chart under a lamp, and if the chart curls secure it flat with extra masking tape or tape it to a piece of cardboard before taping to the wall at eye level.
How can we change the activity to suit younger children or older kids doing the eye test?
For younger children simplify Step 2 by drawing six large familiar symbols (like stars or animals) and sit a bit closer than 3 m while older kids can add extra smaller lines of single letters, record precise missed letters in the notebook, and test from the full 3 m/10 ft distance.
How can we make the eye chart activity more fun or useful after finishing the basic test?
To enhance the project decorate and personalize the chart edges, make a second chart with colored letters or different fonts, repeat the test on different days recording results in the notebook, and share the photo and notes on DIY.org as suggested in the final step.
Watch videos on how to Test Your Own Vision
Quick Eye Tests You Can Do from Home | Visual Field & Color Vision Explained | Doctor eye Institute
4 Videos
Quick Eye Tests You Can Do from Home | Visual Field & Color Vision Explained | Doctor eye Institute
Ask the Optometrist - Kids eyesight
Vision Test at Home
How to check your child's vision at home
Facts about eye health and vision testing for kids
📏 '20/20' vision means you can see at 20 feet what a typical person sees at 20 feet—some people see even better, like 20/15.
🖼️ For kids and non-readers, eye charts use symbols (like LEA symbols) or pictures instead of letters.
🩺 Regular eye exams can spot other health issues too, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, before you feel sick.
👁️ The Snellen chart was created in 1862 by Dutch ophthalmologist Herman Snellen to measure visual acuity.
🖨️ You can make a simple home eye chart by printing scaled letters or symbols and testing at a measured distance (cover one eye at a time).
How do I test my child's vision at home with a simple eye chart?
What materials do I need to make a simple eye chart for a home vision test?
What ages is a home vision test suitable for?
Is it safe to test my child’s eyesight at home and when should I see an eye doctor?
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