This study investigated the relationship between episodic visual memory and word recognition using a novel test of episodic visual memory. 40 subjects learned a set of pseudo-orthographic stimuli which were processed in terms of visual form and structure information during study. Subsequent recognition was better for more frequently and elaboratively processed stimuli, indicating performance was dependent on episodic visual memory. Recognition-test performance was also associated with visual lexical decision but not auditory lexical decision. It was concluded that recognition-test performance was associated with operation of episodic visual memory but independent of lexical access and thereby provides a useful diagnostic tool for the neuropsychological investigation of surface dyslexia.