Ophthalmology

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Ophthalmologist, Ophthalmology Department, Ophthalmic Ward, Eye Department, Eye Specialist, Oculist

Category

Public Services, Public Facilities, Health Care, Clinical Facilities

Message / Function

To indicate the location of a clinical facility that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders

	Source	Description
	Kondrateva	Section through a human eye and optic nerve
	Dreyfuss	Frontal view of a human eye with inverted colors
	NHSE-W	Frontal view of a human eye with highlight
	Nicola Simpson	Frontal view of a human eye with highlight
	CNIS	Frontal view of a human eye with highlight
	SEGD/HJ	Frontal view of a human eye with highlight
	Aicher & Krampen	Eye like shape with several circles inside
	NYCHHC	Eye like shape with filled circle inside
80	Hablamos Juntos	Eye like shape with filled circle inside
80	Hablamos Juntos	Eye like shape with filled circle in the middle surrounded by circle made of dashes
	NHSE-W	Three nested ellipses indicating eye, two in outline, the innermost filled
	D'source	Side view of head with eye
80	Hablamos Juntos	Clipped side view of two human figures, one holding instrument lighting towards the other, indicated by three lines
60	Hablamos Juntos	Clipped front view of human figure holding magnifying glass in front of one eye
	Erco	Clipped front view of human figure, head with eye turned towards eye chart
	Kapitzki	Clipped front view of human figure, head with eye turned towards eye chart
	13ree.design	Pull down eye chart
	Turkkub	Eye chart based on tumbling E display, eye in outline below
60	Hablamos Juntos	Perspective view of glasses with earpieces

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

The collection shown above is only a small selection of the wide variety of pictograms used all over the world to indicate the location of a clinical facility that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders, but it gives a good hint of what is available. There are several general concepts and a multitude of visualizations. These examples also indicate that there might be a visual stereotype: a frontal view of a human eye. Another relevant concept is based on eye charts, optionally combined with other elements or a human figure. Images displaying an ophthalmologist examining a patient can be found less often.

Only a few studies present research covering pictograms for this referent:

Hablamos Juntos in partnership with SEGD (the Society for Environmental Graphic Design) developed several test designs to signify Ophthalmology, a clinical facility that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders, of which five pictograms were subjected to a test on basis of the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure (Fontaine et al., 2010). With median scores ranging from 80 down to 60 none of the pictograms examined was judged as excellently comprehensible. The numbers next to the pictograms in the table above are the median estimation scores reported for the corresponding pictograms in this study. Regarding these results a new variant was designed, which is labeled as SEGD/HJ above.

In a follow up project this symbol was examined - among others - by Zender & Cassedy (2014) using the ISO/ANSI Open-ended Comprehension Test to find out if this variant is understood just as well in a different culture, and if not, why it does not work. Test results from the United States and Tanzania reveal that inside a clinical facility this variant is understood well enough in both countries, as 88 % of the responses from the American sample and 75 % from the Tanzanian sample of local patients could be classified as correct. Including respondents with advanced medical literacy the scores went up to 91 % and 85 % correct.

It has to be noted that images displaying a frontal view of a human eye might be interpreted in a completely different way, especially when the specific medical context is missing. Renderings of a stylized eye are used to signify many other messages, for example to indicate supervised facilities, but also for the referent Surveillance itself. This visual element also can be found in pictograms where people are watching something like in a Theater, Museum, and the like.

Recommendations

Due to the fact that data from research is insufficient, we recommend testing using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure for eliminating poor variants and identifying the best of the set available, followed by a Comprehension Test. These studies should deliver useful data for recommending the best pictogram. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs. Also information concerning knowledge about this medical specialization should be collected at the end of the test, as studies suggest that many terms used for healthcare facilities are often not understood well by people visiting hospitals or related institutions.

Tests of pictograms of referent Ophthalmology

Fontaine, L., Fernández, O., & Middleton, D. (2010): Universal Symbols in Health Care - Symbol Design Research Report. SEGD.

Zender, M., & Cassedy, A.E. (2014): (Mis)understanding: Icon Comprehension in Different Cultural Contexts. Visible Language, 48, 69.