Question

"When using a Snellen alphabet chart, the nurse records the client's vision as 20/40. Which of the following statements best describes 20/40 vision?

a. The client has alterations in near vision and is legally blind.
b. The client can see at 20 feet what the person with normal vision can see at 40 feet.
c. The client can see at 40 feet what the person with normal vision sees at 20 feet.
d. The client has a 20% decrease in acuity in one eye, and a 40% decrease in the other eye."

Answer 1

The 20/40 vision means b. the client can see at 20 feet what someone with normal vision can see at 40 feet.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse records a client's vision as 20/40 using a Snellen chart, this indicates that what b. the client can see at 20 feet away, a person with normal vision can see clearly at 40 feet away.

Thus, the correct statement is: The client can see at 20 feet what the person with normal vision can see at 40 feet.

This means that the client's visual acuity is half that of the normal vision, not that they have alterations in near vision, are legally blind, or have a varying percentage decrease in acuity in each eye.