Visual Acuity: What is 20/20 vision?
20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet.
Having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you have perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance. Other important vision skills, including peripheral awareness or side vision, eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability and color vision, contribute to your overall visual ability.
Some people can see well at a distance but are unable to bring nearer objects into focus. This condition can be caused by hyperopia (farsightedness) or presbyopia (loss of focusing ability). Others can see items that are close but cannot see those far away. This condition may be caused by myopia (nearsightedness).
A comprehensive eye examination by a doctor of optometry can diagnose what is affecting your ability to see well. In most cases, your doctor of optometry can prescribe glasses, contact lenses or a vision therapy program that will help improve your vision. If the reduced vision is due to an eye disease, you may be prescribed ocular medication or another treatment.
Visual Acuity FAQs
What does 20/20 vision mean?
20/20 vision is normal vision acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at a distance. If you have 20/100 vision, you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet.
Does 20/20 mean perfect vision?
No. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a specific test distance. Other important vision skills, including peripheral awareness or side vision, eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability and color vision, contribute to your overall vision ability.
Is 15/15 vision better than 20/20 vision?
No. 15/15 vision means normal sharpness of vision at 15 feet, just as 20/20 indicates normal sharpness of vision at 20 feet. For onsistency, doctors of optometry in the United Sates use 20 feet as the standard for measuring sharpness of vision. Other countries express visual acuity in their own way. In England, for example, doctors of optometry express visual acuity in meters (6/6 is considered normal).
Why do some people have less than 20/20 vision?
Many factors affect visual acuity. Vision conditions, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, or eye diseases affect clarity of vision.
Will clarity of vision vary with distance?
Some people can see well at a distance but cannot bring nearer objects into focus. The condition can be caused by hyperopia (farsightedness) or presbyopia (loss of focusing ability). Others can see items that are close but cannot see items that are far away. This condition may be caused by myopia (nearsightedness).
If my vision is less than 20/20, what can I do?
In a comprehensive eye examination, a doctor of optometry can diagnose what causes, if any, are affecting your ability to see well. In most cases, your doctor of optometry can prescribe glasses, contact lenses or a vision therapy program that can help improve your vision. If the reduced vision is due to an eye disease, your doctor might prescribe eye medication or another treatment.
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FAQs
Visual acuity (VA) is a measure of the ability of the eye to distinguish shapes and the details of objects at a given distance. It is important to assess VA in a consistent way in order to detect any changes in vision. One eye is tested at a time.
What is the normal range of visual acuity? ›
20/20 vision is normal vision acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at a distance.
What is acceptable visual acuity? ›
For example, 20/20 (6/6) is considered normal. 20/40 (6/12) indicates that the line you correctly read at 20 feet (6 meters) away can be read by a person with normal vision from 40 feet (12 meters) away.
What does 20-40 vision mean? ›
Sound familiar? The numbers in your visual acuity measurement have to do with distance. It might be easiest to explain if you imagine the Snellen chart: When you have a Snellen test score of 20/40, that means you'd see the chart as clearly at 20 feet away as someone with “normal” vision would see it from 40 feet away.
What is bad visual acuity? ›
The World Health Organization defines “low vision” as visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/400, with the best possible correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. “Blindness” is defined as a visual acuity worse than 20/400, with the best possible correction, or a visual field of 10 degrees or less.
What is considered poor eyesight? ›
In general, bad eyesight refers to any vision less than 20/20. This is a general standard followed by most optometrists—any vision different than this often needs some kind of vision correction to clearly see the world and safely navigate the environment.
Is 6:15 vision ok for driving? ›
Car drivers must have visual acuity measured at 6/12 or above. That means that in an eye test, you must be able to read the fifth line from the bottom of the chart.
What visual acuity is considered a disability? ›
Statutory blindness is blindness as defined in sections 216(i)(1) and 1614(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (Act). a. The Act defines blindness as central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens.
What is abnormal visual acuity? ›
If your visual acuity is not 20/20, you may need corrective eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. You might also have an eye condition, such as an eye infection or injury, that needs to be treated. You and your doctor will discuss your test results as well as any treatment or correction that might be necessary.
Is 0.75 eyesight bad? ›
Most people have a mild prescription, between 0.5 to 0.75 D. They may not really notice it in their daily lives. People with a measurement of more than . 75 D may need contacts or eyeglasses to correct their vision to see clearly.
In some cases, a person's vision may be so poor that even with corrective lenses they can still only achieve a 20/40 visual acuity score. That's the lowest score possible to still get a driver's license in most states.
At what vision do I need glasses? ›
Blurry vision is one of the first signs that you need glasses. If you notice that objects at a distance appear fuzzy, blurry, or just simply unclear, it's time to visit the eye doctor. Blurry vision can be caused by myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or many other eye conditions.
Is 20/50 vision ok for driving? ›
The DMV's vision screening standard is the ability to see 20/40 with both eyes together, with or without corrective lenses. Drivers who fail the vision screening are referred to a vision specialist who must examine the driver and complete a Report of Vision Examination (DL 62) form.
What is a legally blind prescription? ›
What prescription is considered legally blind? Legal blindness is defined as 20/200 vision. 14 The prescription equivalent is -2.5. It is important to note that prescriptions for corrective lenses are different for each person, and measurements can be different for each eye.
What is a poor vision? ›
What is low vision? Low vision is a vision problem that makes it hard to do everyday activities. It can't be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, or other standard treatments like medicine or surgery. You may have low vision if you can't see well enough to do things like: Read.
What is a weak eyesight level? ›
Having a visual field of 20 degrees or less also qualifies as low vision. Some people have low scores on vision tests, but they're able to correct their impairment with glasses, contacts or surgery. If these treatments make your test scores go up, you don't have low vision.
What is the normal range of vision? ›
Range of vision of a normal human eye is the range of distance for which human eye can see an object clearly. It ranges from infinity to 25 cm i.e. the range between far and near point. A person is able to see objects clearly only when these are lying at distances between 50 cm and 300 cm from his eye.
What does it mean to have 20 15 vision? ›
A person can have 20/15 vision, which is sharper than average. If you have 20/15 vision, you can see a line in the eye chart at 20 feet that the average person can only see when they are 15 feet away. The goal of glasses or contacts is to bring a person's vision to 20/20. Dr.
What does it mean to have 20 10 vision? ›
If you have 20/10 vision you are above average! You are better than the “normal” person and you have better than what is considered to be standard or normal, vision. If you have 20/10 vision, you can see at 20 feet, what a normal person can see at 10 feet from an eye chart. Want to test your vision RIGHT NOW?
What does a visual acuity score of 20 30 mean? ›
20/30 vision is often considered a mild deviation from normal 20/20 vision, and it falls within the range of normal visual acuity for most individuals. It means that what a person with normal vision can see at 30 feet, someone with 20/30 vision would need to be 20 feet away to see the same detail.
