Assessing Near Vision
3 Things to Know
- Near Visual Acuity
- Near Target Acuity
- Working Distance
What Can They See? How Close Are They?
Using the Tech Optics Printable Near Card, you can assess a patient's near visual acuity. Because we're not testing at a fixed distance, this chart uses M size. To assess the patient's visual acuity, we want to find out two things: what size the patient can read, and how far away they are when they read it.
What Do They Want to See?
Typically, the goal is to read 1M, which is about an 8 point font size. If the patient wants to read newsprint, 0.5M would be a better goal.
Calculate the Diopter Equivalent (DEQ)
Rather than magnification, near devices should be selected based on their diopter equivalent. The actual magnification provided by a near device is extremely unpredictable. Diopters are a reliable method for measuring the effectiveness of near-based devices.
The Importance of Lighting
Lighting makes a difference. Before assessing the patient's visual acuity, make sure the light on the chart is maximized. Tech Optics offers many different lighting products, but these are some of our favorites.
Find Devices That Will Help
In magnification, more is not better. You're making a trade. When you increase power, you reduce field of view. You want the minimum amount of magnification required to achieve the patient's goals so you can maximize their field of view.
Glasses
Handheld Magnifiers
