title: IURead: a new computer-based reading test.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a computer-based single sentence reading test especially designed for clinical research enabling multiple repeat trials without reusing the same sentences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We initially developed 422 sentences, with an average of 60 characters and 12 words. Presentation controls were improved by employing computer-based testing and the oral reading was recorded by visual inspection of digital audio recordings. Variability in reading speed of normally sighted adults between sentences, between charts, between subjects, between formats, and between display devices was quantified. The impact of display size and pixel resolution on test geometry was assessed, and the impact of reduced retinal image quality and retinal illuminance were compared for reading and standard letter acuities. Eleven visually normal subjects (age: 18-60 years) participated in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stopwatch timing of sentences reliably underestimated reading times by about 0.3 s, and exhibited coefficients of repeatability 17 times larger than those estimated from visual inspection of digital recordings. A slight relaxing of the lexical content constraints had no effect on reading speed; neither did sentence format (single vs three lines) or display size or distance. Within subject standard deviations of reading speed for different sentences were small (between 6% and 9% of the mean speed) requiring only small samples sizes to achieve typical statistical reliability and power when comparing conditions within individual subjects. The greater variability associated with stopwatch timing necessitates larger sample sizes. As defocus and light level were varied, reading acuity and standard letter acuity were highly correlated (r(2)  = 0.99), and reading acuity was slightly better.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A computer-based IURead reading test provides a useful reading speed and reading acuity tool for clinical research involving multiple conditions and repeat testing of individual subjects. Ready to use IURead files for use with a computer, tablet or cell phone can be downloaded from our lab website (https://www.opt.indiana.edu/Bradley/Downloads.aspx).
authors: Indiana University School of Optometry, Bloomington, USA.
authors: Renfeng
authors: R
authors: Xu
authors: Indiana University School of Optometry, Bloomington, USA.
authors: Arthur
authors: A
authors: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011932:Reading; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: IURead; computer-based; iPhone; reading acuity; reading speed; reading test