Visual acuity is a term used in medicine to describe the clarity or sharpness of a person’s vision. It refers to the ability of the eye to distinguish fine details or the ability to see small objects and read letters from a certain distance.
Visual acuity is typically measured using an eye chart, which displays rows of letters in various sizes. The smallest row of letters that a person can read from a certain distance is used to determine their visual acuity. Visual acuity is expressed as a fraction, such as 20/20, which means that the person can see letters from 20 feet away that a person with normal vision can see from 20 feet away.
Visual acuity can be affected by a variety of factors, including refractive errors (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism), cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye conditions. In some cases, visual acuity can be improved through the use of corrective lenses, medications, or surgery.
Visual acuity is an important measure of overall eye health, and it is often used to assess the severity of eye conditions and track changes over time. Regular eye exams can help detect changes in visual acuity and other eye-related problems early, when they may be more easily treated.
