Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam

During a visual acuity test, a patient sees the letters on the 20/40 line correctly. What does this indicate?

1. The patient has normal vision

2. The patient can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 40 feet

3. The patient has better than average vision

4. The patient requires glasses for distance

The correct answer is: The patient can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 40 feet

The correct interpretation of a patient seeing the letters on the 20/40 line during a visual acuity test is that the patient can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 40 feet. This fraction reflects how visual acuity is measured, indicating that the patient’s vision is not at the standard level (which is typically considered to be 20/20). When a patient reads the 20/40 line correctly, it means their visual acuity is worse than the standard, which would allow a person with normal vision to see what they can from a greater distance (40 feet). This measurement highlights that the patient might experience challenges with tasks requiring clear distant vision, and thus it emphasizes the distinction between their visual ability and what is considered normal.