What should be ensured about the patient before asking them to read during an eye assessment?

It is essential to ensure that the patient is literate before asking them to read during an eye assessment because the assessment relies on their ability to understand and correctly interpret the words on the chart. Literacy allows the individual to provide accurate feedback about their visual capabilities as they read the text. If a patient cannot read, the assessment may not accurately reflect their eye health or visual acuity, as they may struggle to follow instructions or comprehend what is being presented, thus misleading the evaluation.

Having perfect vision is not a requirement, as the purpose of the assessment is to evaluate the patient's visual ability, which can vary across individuals. While wearing glasses may assist those who are visually impaired, it is not mandatory for the assessment to occur; the goal is to determine their vision status regardless of whether they need corrective lenses. Lastly, avoiding reading is contrary to the assessment's purpose, which requires reading to evaluate visual acuity accurately. Hence, ensuring the patient's literacy is a critical aspect of conducting a valid eye assessment.