Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2025

What does Visual Acuity measure?

1. Curvature of the cornea

2. Binocular alignment

3. Finest detail the eye can detect

4. Refractive power of the eye

The correct answer is: Finest detail the eye can detect

Visual acuity measures the finest detail that the eye can detect. It quantifies the clarity or sharpness of vision and is typically assessed using standardized charts with letters or symbols of varying sizes. A higher visual acuity indicates the ability to see finer details clearly, which is essential for tasks such as reading, recognizing faces, and distinguishing objects. By focusing on this aspect of vision, visual acuity testing helps healthcare professionals determine if a patient has any vision problems and whether corrective measures, like glasses or contact lenses, are needed to improve clarity. This assessment is a fundamental part of eye examinations and provides valuable information about an individual's visual function.