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What Is Visual Acuity?

The difference between acuity, prescription strength and overall vision.

Last updated November 3, 2026 · General information only, not medical advice. Please see a licensed eye-care professional for your prescription and eye health.

Woman wearing glasses

Visual acuity describes how clearly you can see detail at a given distance, typically measured with a letter chart. It is expressed as a fraction such as 20/20 (or 6/6 in metric).

Acuity and prescription strength are different: acuity describes how well you see, while your prescription describes the lens power needed to improve it.

Other parts of vision

  • Contrast sensitivity
  • Colour vision
  • Depth perception
  • Peripheral (side) vision

See also Snellen eye chart facts.