Illinois Vision Certification Practice Test

True or False: A visual acuity noted as 30/20 indicates a person who could not correctly identify symbols until shown a 30 size symbol at 20 feet.

1. True

2. False

3. Only true for distance measurement

4. Depends on context

The correct answer is: False

The statement is false because a visual acuity of 30/20 indicates that the person can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision (20/20) can see at 30 feet. This means that the individual has better-than-average vision and can identify smaller symbols or letters at a greater distance than average. To clarify, if someone has a visual acuity of 30/20, it does not imply that they could not identify symbols until they were shown a 30 size symbol at 20 feet. Instead, it suggests that they can discern details at a further distance than what is typically expected. In fact, this measurement signifies that they would likely have no trouble identifying symbols that are larger (or closer) than a 30 size at 20 feet. Thus, the statement misinterprets the meaning of visual acuity and how it references visual capabilities.