Normative Data of the Korean Version of the MNREAD Acuity Chart

Background: To develop the normative data of the Korean version of the MNREAD acuity chart. Methods: : A Korean version was prepared based on the MNREAD acuity chart developed by Gordon Legge of the University of Minnesota, USA. A linguist selected the representative 80 sentences composed of 9 words at the level of the 2nd and 3rd grades of elementary school. Reading abilities were measured for 20-35 years old with normal visual acuity (corrected visual acuity of 1.0 or better) for 80 sentences. Among 80 sentences, 38 items with a similar speed were prepared for the right and left eyes of the Korean version according to the format of the MNREAD acuity chart. Reading speed (word per minute, wpm) for healthy participants, the reading acuity (the smallest detectable font size), and the critical print size (the smallest font size without reduction of reading speed) were analyzed. Results: : The average age of the experimental group was 28.3 ± 2.6 years (male: female 4=16). The average reading speed for 38 sentences was 3.66 ± 0.69 seconds, and there was no difference in the average reading speed between sentences (p=0.836). The reading speed was 146.2 wpm for the right eye and 142.5 wpm for the left eye in logMAR 1.0 size, and 97.7 wpm and 99.7 wpm in logMAR 0.0 size. Reading acuity was measured as logMAR 0.0 or better in 80% of cases. All subjects showed a critical print size of 0.2 or better logMAR. Conclusion: Using the Korean version of the MNREAD acuity chart, the reading ability including reading acuity, reading speed and critical print size, can be measured. It is thought that it will be a useful tool to measure reading ability even for those who speak Korean as their native language.