The Truth About 20/20 Vision
Everyone is familiar with the terms Visual Acuity and Twenty/Twenty vision but what does it actually mean?
During our eye tests our patients are asked to observe and identify letters from an eye chart, the visual acuity in the eye is indicated by the smallest row that can be read without errors.
20/20 vision shows how clear and sharp an individual’s vision is from 20 feet away. For example if you have 20/20 vision this means that you can accurately see what is normally seen from that distance. However if your eyesight is 20/120 would suggest that you need to be 20 feet away to see what a person with regular vision can see from 120 feet.
20/20 vision only judges your distance vision therefore is not a complete indication that your eyesight is perfect. There are other contributing factors to seeing clearly:
- Ability to focus on objects in you immediate surroundings
- Peripheral awareness
- Contrast sensitivity
- Eye Co-ordination
- Depth perception
- Color vision
Patients with glaucoma, high blood pressure or several other health conditions may still have 20/20 vision without the need for wearing spectacles. This is why at Home Opticians we carry out full comprehensive eye examinations, instead of routine visual acuity exams and recommend having regular eye test.
