Residual vision is defined as what?

• A. Snellen eye chart
• B. low vision
• C. the amount and degree of vision a person has functional use of, despite a visual disability
• D. A, I, O

Answer: (C)

Residual vision is the usable vision that remains after a visual impairment. The best description is the amount and degree of vision a person has functional use of, despite a visual disability, because it focuses on what the person can actually use in real life to perform tasks like reading with magnification, recognizing faces, or navigating spaces. This is distinct from using a Snellen chart, which measures acuity, or from the label low vision, which describes a broader category rather than the person’s concrete functional capability. The key is understanding the specific functional vision a student can rely on to guide instructional decisions and accommodations, such as appropriate print size, contrast, lighting, and the use of assistive devices.