What is the primary purpose of a visual acuity test?

The primary purpose of a visual acuity test is to measure how well a person can see. This test assesses the sharpness or clarity of vision, which is typically represented by a fraction or a ratio. The results help determine not only the functional ability of a person's vision in normal circumstances but also indicate how well they can see details at a specific distance.

Visual acuity is a critical component of a comprehensive eye examination, as it provides baseline data about a person's eyesight and can highlight any significant changes over time. While this test can reveal how well someone can see, it does not diagnose specific eye diseases—diagnosis typically requires further evaluation and testing. Additionally, color perception and peripheral vision can be assessed through different tests that focus specifically on those areas, making them distinct from what a visual acuity test aims to measure.