Near Point: Vision and Optometric Considerations
The near point is an important concept in optometry and vision science because it is a measure of a person’s ability to focus near objects. It can be used to diagnose and treat various vision problems. In this article, the definition of near point is discussed, along with the clinical significance and optometric considerations.
Definition
The near point is the closest distance at which a person can clearly focus on a near object. It is usually measured in centimeters, and the normal near point for an adult is approximately 25 cm (Preslan, 2006). Children typically have a much shorter near point, usually around 10 cm (Preslan, 2006). The near point is also referred to as the near point of accommodation or the near point of convergence (Preslan, 2006).
Clinical Significance
The near point is an important measure of visual acuity and is used to diagnose and treat vision problems. A decrease in the near point indicates a decrease in a person’s ability to focus near objects, which could be a sign of vision problems such as presbyopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or strabismus (Preslan, 2006). The near point is also used to measure the effectiveness of vision therapy and the progress of a patient’s vision (Preslan, 2006).
Optometric Considerations
The near point is typically measured using the near point card test or the near point ruler test (Preslan, 2006). In the near point card test, the patient is asked to read a small card held at various distances from their eyes. The distance at which the patient can no longer read the card is the near point (Preslan, 2006). In the near point ruler test, the patient is asked to read a ruler at various distances from their eyes. The distance at which the patient can no longer read the ruler is the near point (Preslan, 2006).
Conclusion
The near point is an important concept in optometry and vision science. It is a measure of a person’s ability to focus near objects, and is used to diagnose and treat various vision problems. The near point is typically measured using the near point card test or the near point ruler test.
References
Preslan, M. W. (2006). Optometric Management of Learning-Related Vision Problems. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Incorporated.