Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Exam – Practice Test & Study Guide 2025

The Snellen chart is primarily used to measure visual acuity, which refers to the clarity or sharpness of vision. This chart displays letters of varying sizes that a person is required to read from a specific distance, typically 20 feet. The results from this test help to determine how well a person can see at a distance compared to what is considered normal vision.

Visual acuity testing is crucial in determining various aspects of eye health and is often a baseline measurement taken during comprehensive eye examinations. By assessing how clearly a person can see the characters on the Snellen chart, eye care professionals can identify potential vision impairments and make recommendations for corrective lenses or further examination if needed.

While the chart itself is not designed to assess color vision, depth perception, or peripheral vision, those aspects can be evaluated using different tests and tools specifically tailored for each function. The focus of the Snellen chart remains solely on measuring how well a person can recognize and differentiate letters at a specified distance, which is fundamental in identifying the need for corrective measures in visual acuity.