20/20 Vision and How It’s Measured in Visual Acuity

by Oct 22, 2020

If you’ve already taken a comprehensive eye exam before, your optometrist might say that you have 20/20 vision. You might think that it means you have perfect vision, but is that the case? Our resident eye doctors at Perception Eyecare + Eyewear explains what you need to know:

20/20 Vision and How It’s Measured in Visual Acuity

The Differences Between Acuity, Eyesight, and Vision

  • Visual Acuity – This refers to the sharpness of your vision, and is measured by the ability to identify numbers or letters on a standardized eye chart from a certain viewing distance.
  • Eyesight – Depending on its usage, it can mean “view”, “ability to see”, “vision”, “the sense of seeing”, or “range of sight”. The terms “eyesight” and “visual acuity” are often used interchangeably.
  • Vision – This term is more broadly defined than visual acuity or eyesight as it includes a wider range of visual abilities and skills. You’ll notice how the term is used when referring to depth perception, color vision, contrast sensitivity, eye movement accuracy, and a few others.

The Limitations

Having 20/20 visual acuity only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a specific test distance. It doesn’t measure other important vision skills that contribute to the overall visual ability. This includes eye coordination, side vision, color vision, depth perception, and focusing ability.

If your vision is less than 20/20, then an optometrist can diagnose the potential causes behind your ability to see well in a comprehensive eye examination. Usually, you may get prescribed eyeglasses, contact lenses, or even a therapy program to improve your vision. But if this is caused by an eye disease, you might be prescribed eye medication or another treatment.

If you’re thinking about getting a comprehensive eye exam, check out Perception Eyecare + Eyewear and call us at [company_phone]. You can also fill out our convenient online request form to get started!

Request Appointment

You can schedule your next appointment with us online!

Connect With Us

Let’s continue the conversation over on your social network of choice.