Culturally Relevant Visual Acuity Charts for Aboriginal Populations
Project Summary
This project will research, develop, and test visual acuity symbols that are culturally relevant for Aboriginal Canadians. One important cultural connection for Aboriginal people is a highly evolved relationship with their natural environments. Aboriginal peoples have always been dependent on the animals from their territories for subsistence. We will investigate and develop a suitable array of symbols that correspond to the flora and fauna of Northern and Southern Canada. These will be rendered in a style and form that is recognizable Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal focus groups from across Canada will be recruited and convened to derive and test these symbols. Legibility testing will be performed to determine a suitable subset of test optotypes that demonstrate a magnitude and range of legibility that is identical to those of standard visual acuity optotypes. A culturally relevant visual acuity chart will be designed in accordance with established design guidelines for contemporary visual acuity charts.
Project Goals
The objectives of this project are:
- to establish a set of culturally relevant eye chart symbols that are identifiable by members of Canada’s Aboriginal community;
- to develop graphic representations of these symbols for legibility testing;
- to experimentally derive a symbols subset with legibility performance similar to the standard letter optotypes that are used in traditional letter acuity charts;
- to design a three prototype acuity charts (for right eye, left eye, and both eye testing) using these symbols in accordance with standard acuity chart design principles. The validity and reliability of these charts will be evaluated through subsequent research.