The healthcare provider conducts a vision test on a patient using the Snellen chart. The healthcare provider understands that a result of 20/50 has which meaning?

a) The patient can read at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can read at 50 feet.
b) The patient can read at 50 feet what a person with normal vision can read at 20 feet.
c) The patient can read at 20 feet what a person with impaired vision can read at 50 feet.
d) The patient can read at 50 feet what a person with impaired vision can read at 20 feet.

On a Snellen chart test, a result of 20/50 means the patient can read from 20 feet away what those with normal vision can read from 50 feet away, indicating reduced visual acuity. So the correct answer is A.

Explanation:

When a healthcare provider utilizes the Snellen chart and obtains a result of 20/50, it means that the patient can read at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can read at 50 feet.

This indicates that the patient's visual acuity is less than the standard; a person with normal vision could be 50 feet away and still read the same line of letters that the patient can read from 20 feet away.

The patient can read at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can read at 50 feet.