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Testing the vision of a two-year-old couldn't be easier. Simply ask him to name a selection of pictures from the flip-over book and record his vision as the smallest that he can see and recognise.

You can rely on the results because the 22 pictures are designed and graded in the same way as Snellen's letters and are accurate to within one line of Snellen's acuity. The are also recognisable to a high percentage of children aged 2 to 3.

The pictures are presented one at a time, which avoids confusion and allows the child to concentrate without distraction. Interest is maintained by the variety of pictures, many of which can be identified by associated words or sounds such as quack (duck) or raining (umbrella).

The visual acuity range is from 6/60 - 6/6 (20/200 - 20/20 in feet). There's a choice of three or four different pictures at each acuity level so that even children with a very small vocabulary can be tested. This means as young as 18 months in some cases.

A near test card and three recognition booklets are included in the set. The near test card has reduced Snellen size pictures from 6/60 to 6/6.

Recognition booklets contain all 22 pictures and are provided to help familiarise a very young or shy child with the pictures before testing begins or at home.

The distance test books covers are encapsulated in hard-wearing plastic. The near test card is matt laminated. Both can be wiped clean.