The historical perspective of Visual Acuity Assessment in optometry

Visual acuity is an invaluable indicator in most eye conditions. Despite being necessary as a medico-legal and ethical requirement for documenting the patient’s state of vision at both entrance and exit point in the patient’s management cycle, it is quite inevitable in refinement of subjective refraction. Its usefulness in monitoring the progression or regression of most eye conditions cannot simply be over-emphasized. This paper has attempted to consider the unfortunate situation where this an all important aspect of optometry has become neglected and relegated to the background in terms of method of measurement and instrumentation. Furthermore, it observed that even the Visual Acuity charts used in some eye clinics are substandard and mal-calibrated. Finally, a review of the old, the present and the future methods of visual acuity assessment was done with a design to expose what awaits every optometrist in the nearest future. In conclusion, the paper posited that in the face of various emerging technologies as regards to the art and science of visual acuity assessment, every optometrist should device an effective way of delivering this service with a rich suffuse of local content value.