20 20 Vision And What It Means to You

What is 20 20 vision? Visual acuity is measured in terms of what a "normal" person sees at a specific distance.

For many years it has been accepted that a person with 20/20 visual acuity is "normal". So what does 20/20 mean?

Basically, it says that, at 20 feet, you are able to see what that "normal" person sees at 20 feet.

We have all seen those eye charts at the doctor's office.

That is the Snellen eye chart and it is used to measure visual acuity.

• Line #8 is the 20/20 line, so at 20 feet, you should be able to read that line fairly easily.

• Line #5 equals a visual acuity of 20/40 and is accepted in all the American states as a passing level for a license. All it means is that you can see at 20 feet what the "normal" person sees at 40 feet. In other words, your vision is twice as bad as the 20/20 person.

There are many indicators of when to get an eye examination.

In children, problems at school or with reading should not be ignored. Some kids have trouble seeing the blackboard or reading the required material. An eye exam can detect the problem and point the way to a resolution.

In adults, the red flags are basically the same, but noticing them is a matter of observance.

Myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and cataracts are the most common reasons. Sometimes a more serious condition like glaucoma, retinal damage or scarring of the cornea may be the case.

In all these situations, an eye examination can help to avoid further deterioration of the condition, thus saving your eyesight.

Now most of us would like to have 20/20 eyesight.

Prescription glasses or contact lenses will definitely provide you better vision.

Corrective eye surgery may also be the recourse. Most procedures are done on an outpatient basis and normally achieve very good results. But as any surgery they might contain certain risks. So make sure you are informed well in advance!



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