Even if you don’t work in the vision care field, you know you should be aiming for 20/20 vision. While this isn’t the strongest vision a person can have, it’s used as the fighter pilot minimum because it’s the accepted standard for visual acuity.

That said, you might not know exactly what those numbers are referring to. To get a better understanding of the terminology, ask your eye doctor to clarify anything you don’t understand at your next visit to their office. They’ll help you get a better sense of what you should do to keep your vision in the best possible shape.

But what does the term 20/20 vision mean?

At the optometry office of Dr. L. R. Gabe, in Show Low, Arizona, they put a lot of value on making sure all of their patients are thoroughly informed about their treatment. This means answering questions and explaining concepts such as 20/20 vision.

Essentially, the 20 in 20/20 vision refers to 20 feet. When a vision care specialist says you have 20/20 vision, what they’re really saying is that you can read from a distance of 20 feet the same letters a person with normal vision would be able to read from the same distance. On the other hand, if you have 20/40 vision, that would mean you can only read from 20 feet away what the average person would be able to read from 40 feet away. In other words, your vision is only half as strong as that of the average person who doesn’t need any eye care treatment to correct a vision problem.

Again, 20/20 vision isn’t the strongest your vision can be, but it is strong enough that you won’t need glasses or contacts. To learn more about this topic or to have answered any other questions you may have, schedule an appointment at the office of Dr. L. R. Gabe, in Show Low, Arizona. Contact them online, or call (928) 537-5565.