Herman Snellen

Herman Snellen (February 19, 1834 – January 18, 1908) was a Dutch ophthalmologist who introduced the Snellen chart to study visual acuity (1862). He took over directorship of the Netherlands Hospital for Eye Patients (Nederlandsch Gasthuis voor Ooglijders), after Franciscus Donders.

Herman Snellen
Born(1834-02-19)19 February 1834
Zeist, Netherlands
Died18 January 1908(1908-01-18) (aged 73)
Utrecht, Netherlands
NationalityNetherlands
Known forSnellen chart
Scientific career
Fieldsophthalmology
InstitutionsNetherlands Hospital for Eye Patients
Typical Snellen chart to estimate visual acuity

Early life

Snellen studied medicine at Utrecht University under Donders, Gerardus Johannes Mulder and Jacobus Schroeder van der Kolk. He earned his medical degree in 1858. He specialized in ophthalmology and worked as an assistant physician at the Netherlands Hospital for Eye Patients after he had completed his degree.

Director

He was named to succeed Donders as the institute's director in 1884, a position he served until 1903. In 1877, he was appointed as a professor of ophthalmology at Utrecht University. He did research on astigmatism, glaucoma and other eye diseases as well as research on correction of visual acuity using eyeglasses and ophthalmological surgery.[1]

Chart

While alternative versions had been developed before him, by Eduard Jäger von Jaxtthal and others, Snellen developed his eye chart in 1862[2] to measure visual acuity, which rapidly become the global standard.[3] The most significant innovation was his use of what he called optotypes, specially designed characters generated on a 5x5 grid, rather than using standard fonts. They provide a physical standard measure that could be used when printing the chart. Standard vision was measured as the ability to correctly read a line of optotype characters when they subtended 5 minutes of arc and were separated by 1 minute of arc.

Since its inception, more copies of the Snellen Chart have been sold in the United States than any other poster. It remained a ubiquitous standard in medical offices into the 21st century.[4]

References
  1. Herman Snellen, Whonamedit.com. Accessed July 6, 2010.
  2. H. Snellen, Probebuchstaben zur Bestimmung der Sehschärfe, Utrecht 1862.
  3. Watt, Wendy Strouse. "How Visual Acuity Is Measured", Macular Degeneration Support, October 2003. Accessed July 6, 2010.
  4. Bordsen, John. "Eye Chart Still The Standard For Vision", The Seattle Times, August 9, 1995. Accessed July 6, 2010.
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