There is no doubt about how important it is to maintain a healthy, perfect vision. People have varying levels of vision, like 20/10, 20/20, 20/40, and so on. What does it mean to have good vision? Also, how can you achieve good vision?
Is 20/20 vision perfect?
Having a 20/20 vision does not always mean perfect vision. The American Optometric Association states that a person with 20/20 vision can clearly identify a row of 9mm letters from 20 feet. 20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet.
Visual acuity refers to your ability to discern the shapes and details of the things you see. It’s just one factor in your overall vision. There are other important vision skills including peripheral awareness of side vision, eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability, and color vision.
Can my vision be better than 20/20?
Yes, it can. Having 20/20 vision means you have a normal or average vision. Some people have a vision that’s better than 20/20, like 20/15 vision or 20/10 vision. This means that you can see something 20 feet away (like a line on an eye chart) that most people can see when they’re 15 feet away (20/15) or 10 feet away (20/10).
LASIK surgery has the potential to enhance your vision to 20/15. However, the objective of LASIK and similar procedures is not to attain a 20/15 vision. Actually, achieving 20/15 vision correction can result in blurred vision, eye strain, or headaches. Corrective surgery typically aims to achieve 20/20 vision, rather than 20/15.
How is vision worse than 20/20 treated?
Not many people have 20/20 vision without glasses or contact lenses. Dr. McKinney says that only about 35% of all adults have 20/20 vision without glasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery. With correction, approximately 75% of adults will have 20/20 vision. What is the treatment for eyesight that falls below the 20/20 standard?
- Eyeglasses
The most traditional method of vision correction is glasses. Glasses refract light and focus it on the retina. Glasses are practical and safe, but they can be uncomfortable for people with active lifestyles.
- Contact lenses
Contact lenses work the same way as glasses, but they are more useful during outdoor activity. Additionally, some people prefer contact lenses over glasses for aesthetic purposes. However, lenses are also temporary, and long-term use of contact lenses can cause permanent vision damage, including abrasions, infections, and vision loss.
- Corrective surgery
Vision correction surgery involves altering the eye’s refractive index, which is the ability of light to bend. It provides a long-lasting alternative to glasses or contact lenses. While not everyone may be suitable for vision correction surgery, the outcomes are anticipated to be long-lasting. You don’t have to worry about daily cleaning of your lenses or repairing your glasses.
A recent study published in The Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery found that LASIK had a 96% satisfaction rate among patients. Additionally, according to the American Refractive Surgery Council, after several months of postoperative recovery, more than 90% of LASIK patients achieve 20/20 vision or better.
Conclusion
Wouldn’t you prefer to be able to see clearly right away without searching for glasses or struggling to put on contact lenses? Laser eye surgery can significantly decrease or even eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. Laser vision correction surgery allows people who have never had perfect vision to engage in activities such as reading, running, swimming, or biking without relying on glasses or contact lenses.
If you are curious about “Which option is more cost-effective, LASIK or Corrective eyewear?”, please refer to the link below.
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