Visual Acuity Test
A measure of how clearly you see. Read off a letter chart one eye at a time, in a few minutes, and nothing touches the eye.
- Senior Consultant Eye Surgeons
- 50+ combined years in ophthalmology
- Seven clinics in six locations islandwide
Camden (Orchard)Joo ChiatClementiBedokToa PayohJurong
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What a visual acuity test is
Visual acuity is how sharply you see detail. It is measured by reading letters on a chart, called a Snellen chart, one eye at a time.
You cover one eye and read down the chart until the letters are too small to make out. The smallest line you can read is your result.
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The smallest line you can read gives your result
What 6/6 vision means
The result is written as two numbers.
The first number is how far you stand from the chart, 6 metres. The second is the distance at which a standard eye can read the same line.
- 6/6 is the standard line, often called normal vision. It is the same as 20/20, measured in feet.
- 6/9 or 6/12 means you read at 6 metres what a standard eye can read from 9 or 12.
- 6/60 means only the top letter can be read.
A result better than 6/6, such as 6/5, is possible. Some charts score the same thing on another scale, called LogMAR.
Visual acuity is not your prescription
It says how well you see, not what lenses you need.
- A pinhole shows whether glasses could help. If the letters sharpen through one, the blur is usually a focusing problem.
- Your eye power is a separate test. A refraction test measures the lens that would bring the letters into focus, including any astigmatism.
6/6 vision is not a full eye check
A letter chart tests the centre of your vision only.
- Some conditions leave the letters sharp at first. Glaucoma usually affects side vision before central vision, which a visual field test checks.
- The health of the eye is looked at with other tests, such as an eye pressure test and a look at the retina.
Letters not as clear as they were? Tell our friendly staff what you have noticed and they will arrange the right appointment.
Visual Acuity Test Cost in Singapore
A visual acuity test is part of every eye consultation, and of all four of our eye screening packages.
| Screening package | Price |
|---|---|
| Community cataract screening | $29 |
| General eye screening | $99 |
| Diabetic retinal screening | $99 |
| Comprehensive eye screening | $249 |
Prices shown are for our community clinics at Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong. All fees shown are nett, and each figure is the price of the whole screening package.
The screening packages are senior optometrist-led and every report is reviewed by an ophthalmologist.
Common questions
What does 6/6 vision mean?
That you read at 6 metres the line a standard eye reads at 6 metres. It is the standard line on the chart, and it is often called normal vision.
Is 6/6 the same as 20/20?
Yes. They are the same result measured in different units: 6 metres is about 20 feet. Singapore uses metres, so a result is written 6/6, 6/9 or 6/12.
What does 6/12 vision mean?
That you need to be at 6 metres to read the line a standard eye can read from 12 metres. It is below the standard line, and whether glasses would change it is what a refraction test measures.
What vision do I need to drive in Singapore?
The College of Ophthalmologists summarises the guideline as at least 6/12 in one eye for Class 1 to 3 licences other than taxis, and 6/12 in each eye for taxis, buses and lorries. The guidelines in force at the time of your assessment are the ones that apply.
How is astigmatism tested?
It is measured in a refraction test, which gives it as the cylinder and axis in your prescription. A letter chart shows how clearly you see, but not whether astigmatism is the reason.
Can I check my visual acuity at home?
A chart at home gives a rough idea, but the distance, the lighting and the size of the letters all change the result. A measured test is done at a set distance, one eye at a time.
How much is a visual acuity test?
No price is published for a visual acuity test on its own. It is part of all four of our eye screening packages, from $29 nett at our community clinics in Bedok, Clementi, Toa Payoh and Jurong, and of an eye consultation.
Have your vision checked
Send us a message with what you have noticed and a time that suits, and our staff will arrange the appointment.
