Vision: Ophthalmic and Optometric Testing
Howard Howland

Human vision depends upon the functioning of both the eye and the brain. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist uses a number of behavioral tests to determine how well this system functions.

In this exploration, we will look at these tests and see how their results are affected by various common optical problems. We will illustrate the techniques of measuring visual acuity and contrast acuity and show you how one goes about determining a spectacle prescription, and the actual power of the spectacles you are wearing. Students who participate in the exercise should be willing to be subjects for these procedures. We will also discuss how these techniques are used in current visual research.