About Us

For over 60 years, the Good-Lite Company has been manufacturing the finest line of vision light boxes, charts and accessories. Our commitment to quality is only surpassed by our commitment to customer service.

Good-Lite's History

In the late 1920s, Robert Good, MD, Professor of Ear, Nose and Throat at the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery, recognized a need for an effective medical headlight and prompted his son, Palmer Good, MD to meet this need. Through their combined efforts, the Good-Lite Company was founded in 1930 with the development of the first Good-Lite headlight. Later, Dr. Palmer Good, an ophthalmologist added vision-testing equipment to the Good-Lite product line. He worked closely with Drs. Sloan and Snellen to develop the eye charts still used by medical professionals today. He also helped Dr. Otto Littman create the HOTV optotypes, the first technique that allowed screeners to test very young, pre-verbal children for vision problems. Early detection is the critical component to a lifetime of healthy vision. Today, the Good-Lite Company focuses exclusively on manufacturing visual acuity cabinets, eye charts and accessories for vision screening. As we celebrate our 70th year, we are proud that we remain family owned and operated – now in the third generation.

Our Mission

The Good-Lite Company is committed to manufacturing the finest line of vision screening instruments and charts that will effectively screen persons, thus enabling a lifetime of good sight. Amblyopia or “lazy eye” is a condition affecting 2 to 3 percent of the U.S. population and one in every 20 preschoolers. It can cause permanent loss of vision if left untreated. Amblyopia usually affects only one eye resulting in a condition known as monocular vision. Many children don’t realize they should be able to see through both eyes. Parents are often completely unaware of any problem with their child’s sight.

According to Mark Ruttum, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology at Medical College of Wisconsin, when amblyopia is detected before age 3, approximately 95% of children recover their vision. After age 6, it can be difficult to totally correct. Dr. Ruttum believes that parents need to be sure their young children receive comprehensive examinations that check the functioning of each eye.

“Together, we can make a difference.”