visual acuity

noun

: the relative ability of the visual organ to resolve detail that is usually expressed as the reciprocal of the minimum angular separation in minutes of two lines just resolvable as separate and that forms in the average human eye an angle of one minute

Examples of visual acuity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Loss of acuity: People lose visual acuity—the ability to see details near or far away—and may have blurry vision. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 3 Oct. 2024

The exam includes visual acuity tests that evaluate how each eye can see (e.g., reading charts) and a refraction test. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 18 Aug. 2024

Your healthcare provider will evaluate your symptoms with an eye examination, which includes a visual acuity test and testing of your eye muscles. —Troy Bedinghaus, Od, Verywell Health, 1 June 2024

This visual acuity from such a tiny, simple creature is unusual because capabilities like that are usually reserved for more advanced creatures, like vertebrates, arthropods, and cephalopods. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

visual acuity

noun

: the relative ability of the visual organ to resolve detail that is usually expressed as the reciprocal of the minimum angular separation in minutes of two lines just resolvable as separate and that forms in the average human eye an angle of one minute compare minimum separable, minimum visible