Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients with Eye and Vision Disorders Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients with Eye and Vision Disorders related questions and content

A patient who presents for an eye examination is diagnosed as having a visual acuity of 20/40. The patient asks the nurse what these numbers specifically mean. What is a correct response by the nurse?

  • A. A person whose vision is 20/40 can see an object from 40 feet away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 20 feet away.
  • B. A person whose vision is 20/40 can see an object from 20 feet away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 40 feet away.
  • C. A person whose vision is 20/40 can see an object from 40 inches away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 20 inches away.
  • D. A person whose vision is 20/40 can see an object from 20 inches away that a person with 20/20 vision can see from 40 inches away.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: 20/40 vision means the patient sees at 20 feet what a person with 20/20 vision sees at 40 feet, indicating reduced acuity. The measurement uses feet, not inches.