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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
Normal visual acuity is considered to be 20/20, and in the US, legal blindness is defined as 20/200 or worse.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024
The volunteers started off with an average visual acuity of 20/450.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1866, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near visual acuity
Cite this Entry
“Visual acuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/visual%20acuity. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on visual acuity
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about visual acuity
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