An eye doctor will sometimes say your vision is 20/20. Some people are proud of their better than 20/20 vision. In those cases, 20/15 vision may come up. You may also hear someone that has a cataract refer to their vision as 20/100. So what does all of this mean? Do I need to have 20/20 vision?
20/20 vision is the standard to determine normal visual activity. Looking specifically at clarity and sharpness of vision. According to AAO, a person with 20/20 vision can see what an average individual can see on an eye chart standing 20 feet away.
So if you have 20/50 vision is that better than 20/20? No. It is actually the opposite. If you have 20/50 vision, it means your vision is less than the average individual. At twenty feet away, you read what most individuals can read at 30 feet away. 20/100 vision, a description of a patient that must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet.
We treat vision more than 20/20 with eye wear. Contacts, glasses, LASIK, etc. Keep in mind, 20/20 vision is average. That does not mean it is perfect vision. A person can have 20/15 vision which means they can see a line on the eye cart at 20 feet that the average person can see at 15 feet.
20/20 vision is an average. A standard. It is rare to have vision better than 20/15 vision. The goal is to bring a person’s vision to 20/20. Only about 35% of all adults have 20/20 vision without assistance. If you experience vision less than 20/20, we can help! 75% of adults have 20/20 vision with correction.
Most states require 20/40 or better vision for a driver’s license. As far as children, if they are old enough to read a chart they should have their vision tested. With that said, some children will start to see their vision decrease around age 8, according to Tim Johnson, MD.
Get your vision test regularly. We love vision. Therefore we want you to have the sharpest vision for as long as possible. With that said, it can only happen if you care for your vision. That means annual visits. Having glasses as a backup to contact lenses. Changing your contact lenses regularly. Contacting your optometrist if any issues occur. If you want to know where you stand on the clarity of your vision, contact us today for an exam!