What is Optician Sans?
Optician Sans is a free typeface that draws inspiration from historical eye charts used by opticians worldwide, including the Snellen chart from 1862 and the Sloan letters from 1959. It is based on the visual principles of the LogMAR chart, developed at the National Vision Research Institute of Australia, and is optically adjusted to function as a fully functional display font. The design ensures equal legibility for all users, making it suitable for commercial and professional use where clarity is paramount.
The font includes basic Latin characters and custom alternate glyphs for a more consistent appearance, allowing users to choose how closely they adhere to the original optotypes. Released under the SIL Open Font License, Optician Sans is open-source and available on GitHub, with resources for press and contact provided by its creators, ANTI Hamar and typographer Fábio Duarte Martins.
Features
- Free Font: Available for download at no cost under the SIL Open Font License
- Historical Basis: Designed based on Snellen and Sloan eye charts from 1862 and 1959
- Optical Adjustments: Optically tuned for readability as a fully functional display typeface
- Custom Alternates: Includes alternative glyphs for a more consistent and wholesome look
- Open Source: Hosted on GitHub for community access and contributions
Use Cases
- Designing eye test charts for opticians and ophthalmologists
- Creating commercial materials requiring high readability
- Developing visual layouts for healthcare practices
- Enhancing display typography in graphic design projects
- Educational tools for teaching about visual acuity and optometry
