Fri. Dec 6th, 2024

Find out how sharp-eyed you are.

Visual acuity test

This test measures how clearly you see. Your doctor asks you to identify different letters of the alphabet printed on a chart or a screen positioned some distance away. The lines of type get smaller as you move down the chart.

Each eye is tested separately. Your near vision also may be tested, using a card with letters held at a reading distance.

Refraction assessment

Light waves are bent as they pass through your cornea and lens. If light rays don’t focus perfectly on the back of your eye, you have a refractive error. That can mean you need some form of correction, such as glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery, to see as clearly as possible.