A Snellen chart result of 20/70 indicates what about distance vision?

• A. Normal acuity
• B. Reduced acuity
• C. Better than normal acuity
• D. Untestable

Answer: (B)

Interpreting Snellen numbers helps you understand how well you see at a distance. The first number is how far you stand from the chart, and the second shows the distance a person with normal vision would need to read the same line. So, 20/70 means you can read that line from 20 feet, whereas a person with normal vision could read it from 70 feet. That difference shows your distance vision is reduced compared to normal.

Normal acuity is 20/20. A better-than-normal acuity would be something like 20/15, where you can read even smaller details from the same distance. If the chart can’t be used, or you can’t read any lines, that would be untestable. So the 20/70 result clearly reflects reduced distance visual acuity.