Near vision acuities should be measured at a distance of ____ cm.

• A. 40 cm
• B. 20 cm
• C. 50 cm
• D. 60 cm

Answer: (A)

Testing near visual acuity at the standard near-testing distance is done to reflect what a person usually does with their eyes at close range, such as reading. Using this fixed distance keeps results consistent and comparable across patients and clinics. If you tested much closer than that, the eyes would have to work with a higher accommodative demand, which can distort acuity measurements depending on the patient’s focusing ability. If you tested farther away, you’d be measuring vision at a distance or intermediate range rather than true near vision, which wouldn’t represent typical near tasks. So the standard near-distance testing provides a reliable, real-world measure of near vision.