Seeing Children Clearly: How Dr. Lea Hyvärinen’s Legacy Lives On Through Good-Lite
For nearly a century, Good-Lite has been guided by a singular purpose: to advance accurate, equitable vision care, especially for children, through clinically sound tools and thoughtful innovation. Few figures embody those principles more completely than Dr. Lea Hyvärinen, whose life’s work reshaped pediatric vision screening worldwide.
Her legacy is not only honored in academic and clinical circles, such as the recent Pediatric Symposium hosted by the New England College of Optometry, but also lives on every day through Good-Lite’s work and stewardship of her innovations.
A Pioneer of Early, Equitable Vision Assessment
Dr. Hyvärinen recognized early in her career that traditional letter charts failed many children, not because they couldn’t see, but because they couldn’t yet read. Her response was both elegant and rigorous: the creation of LEA Symbols®, a scientifically calibrated set of optotypes designed so that each symbol blurs equally and can be reliably recognized by young or preliterate children.
This was more than a product innovation. It was a philosophical shift. It placed developmental appropriateness, accuracy, and access at the center of pediatric eye care.
Good-Lite’s Role as Global Steward of LEA Printed Products
Good-Lite is proud to hold the exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture and distribute all printed products. This responsibility reflects a shared commitment between Dr. Hyvärinen’s vision and Good-Lite’s 90-year legacy:
- Clinical integrity over convenience
- Standardization grounded in science
- Equitable access for children across languages, cultures, and abilities
By ensuring LEA printed products are produced to exacting standards and distributed globally, Good-Lite safeguards the fidelity of Dr. Hyvärinen’s work. This ensures that what clinicians and schools use today remains true to the original scientific intent.
Her comments echo national data showing that up to 1 in 4 children has an untreated vision issue, according to the CDC Vision Health Initiative.
Shared Principles Across Generations
Dr. Hyvärinen’s philosophy aligns seamlessly with the principles that have guided Good-Lite since its founding in 1930:
- Early intervention matters: Vision issues identified early can change the course of a child’s learning and development.
- Measurement must be trustworthy: Reliable tools lead to better decisions, referrals, and outcomes.
- Equity is essential: Vision screening should work for every child, not just those who fit traditional models.
These same principles inform Good-Lite’s modern digital platforms, including Good-Lite Studio, which extends the legacy of standardized, evidence-based screening into longitudinal data tracking and coordinated care. Learn more about Good-Lite Digital.
A Living Legacy
Dr. Lea Hyvärinen’s work was never about a single test. It was about seeing children as they are and meeting them where they are. Through Good-Lite’s exclusive stewardship of her printed products and continued innovation across analog and digital screening solutions, that legacy remains active, protected, and evolving.
After 90 years, Good-Lite continues to do what it has always done best: honor clinical pioneers by carrying their work forward faithfully, responsibly, and with purpose. LEA Symbols® is a registered trademark of Lea-Test Ltd.
