What tool is typically used to assess visual acuity?

The Snellen chart is the standard tool used to assess visual acuity because it is designed specifically for this purpose. It consists of rows of letters that decrease in size, allowing the clinician to evaluate how well a patient can see at various distances. The test typically involves having the patient read the smallest line of letters they can clearly distinguish, which helps to determine the clarity of their vision.

In contrast, the otoscope is used for examining the ear canal and tympanic membrane, the tonometer measures intraocular pressure which is important for glaucoma assessment, and the retinoscope is utilized to evaluate refractive errors by shining light into the eye and observing the reflection off the retina. Each of those tools is crucial in their own right but serves a different function in the HEENT assessment.