Visual Acuity

The term we use for normal visual acuity is 20/20 vision, but what exactly is 20/20 vision and how is it measured? Since visual acuity is used for many reasons it is helpful to know how it works. Having 20/20 vision does not mean perfect vision; this is a measurement that indicates the sharpness and clarity of vision at a distance. The 20/20 designation indicates what a normal person should see when standing 20 feet away from an eye chart.

As the number changes so does your vision. If you have 20/60 vision, you must understand that you see at 20 feet what a normal sighted person sees from 60 feet away. If you test as 20/200 or higher, you are considered legally blind in the United States. It is also possible to have better than 20/20 vision, 20/10 vision is the ability to see 10 feet away what a normal person sees at 20 feet away. This is considered better than normal visual acuity.

There are a few ways to correct your vision to 20/20. These can include glasses, contact lenses, and Lasik eye surgery. If you do not want to go under an invasive process to correct your vision you will want to go with eye glasses, or contact lenses. If you do not like anything in your eyes, you may want to get glasses. No matter how you have your vision corrected, make sure to do your research and consider all your options. That way you are insured of making an educated and wise decision.