What is 20/20 Vision?

Healthy vision is an asset for anyone. Many people suffer from any number of visual impairments, diseases, and conditions. Some are as mild as Myopia and Astigmatism, whereas others are more serious. These ailments can be debilitating and even lead to blindness. Having healthy vision is a gift, and it is important to receive regular eye check-ups to determine eye health as well as gauge the clarity of your vision. 20/20 vision is often elusive, but a wonderful diagnosis if you are lucky enough to have it.

20/20 vision does not actually mean perfect vision, contrary to popular belief. It is a term that expresses normal visual acuity, which is the sharpness of vision measured from a distance of 20 feet. With 20/20 vision, you are able to see clearly at 20 feet. There are many other factors that contribute to measuring vision, including depth perception, ability to focus, color vision, peripheral vision, and eye coordination.

20/20 vision allows you to see colors and objects clearly from a distance of 20 feet. The top 20 refers to the distance you are standing from the Snellen Eye chart; the bottom 20 represents how far away you can be with normal vision and still read the letters in the line on the chart. 20/20 vision is normal vision, and what can be expected from most people. Someone with 20/10 vision, for example, has even better vision. They can see 10 feet farther away than someone with normal vision. It is important to realize that although 20/20 vision is normal, it does not measure overall vision. This is only a measure of visual acuity, and does not factor in any other conditions.