A vision type can be as unique to a person as their personality or sense of style. It is different in every single patient, but some visual conditions are quite common. Many of our patients have nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism or near-perfect eyesight. What is the best vision type and what is the worst? At Optical Masters, we perform comprehensive exams that help us keep your eyes healthy. Let us discover what vision type you have today!
 

Vision Type: What the Numbers Mean

• 20/20 - According to the American Optometric Association, this is normal visual acuity (clarity and sharpness) at a distance of 20 feet. That means you can see clearly 20 feet away from an object.

• 20/100 - This is just an example, but those who have a vision type that is 20/100 would have to be 20 feet away from an object that most people can see at 100 feet. The same goes for 20/80, 20/60 and so on when it comes to distance.

• 20/10 - When the numbers go down, that indicates that you have better than average eyesight. When using an eye chart, you can see clearly at 20 feet away what a person with “normal” vision can see clearly at 10 feet away.

• 20/200 - This is the level at which you are considered to be legally blind. That means a person with 20/200 vision has to be 20 feet away from an object to see clearly, whereas a person with normal eyesight can see clearly at 200 feet away.
   

We’d like to make a special note that having 20/20 vision does NOT mean that you have perfect eyesight. It only means that you can see normal sharpness and clarity at a distance. 20/20 is generally the standard baseline with which most people are measured.
 

Common Eye Conditions

• Nearsightedness - This is also known as myopia. A person can see objects clearly when they are close to them, but objects at a distance will appear blurred. Nearsightedness affects about 30% of the population and is easily treated with contacts or glasses.

• Farsightedness - This is also known as hyperopia and is the opposite of nearsightedness. A person can see objects clearly that are far away, but objects close to them are blurry. This is also easily treatable just like myopia.

• Astigmatism - The surface of the cornea or lens is not spherical, causing your eyes to focus at two separate points instead of one. This can cause eye strain, discomfort, headaches, blurred/distorted eyesight, night vision problems and more. We can easily treat astigmatism with proper contacts or eyewear.

• Presbyopia - Condition in which the lens of your eye changes and is less flexible,  making it difficult to focus on objects that are near. This can occur around age 40 and later. There are many visual changes between ages 40-60, but after age 60 they become more severe.

• Macular Degeneration - This is a deterioration of the center part of your retina or the area in the back of the eye that receives the images and sends information to the brain. A person will start to see a gray/black dot in the center of their eyesight which will gradually grow larger. This condition is the leading cause of vision loss and is incurable, however, the effects can be slowed with treatment.

• Cataracts - The clouding of the lens in your eye that can affect only one eye or both eyes. The lens sits behind the colored part of your eye (the iris) and will cloud over, causing light to scatter and blur. You may also see a double vision with objects. This condition generally is caused by age or injury but sometimes can be caused by genetics, past eye conditions, surgeries, chronic illnesses, and medications.

• Glaucoma - Condition where the optic nerve of the eye is affected. The optic nerve carries images from the retina to the brain. Glaucoma often has no noticeable symptoms and is not painful. You will gradually lose your peripheral vision though, and that loss will continue. With frequent eye exams, we can detect glaucoma and greatly slow down the progress of the disease.
   

Our Comprehensive Exams

Did you know we have over 100 tests to measure your eyes with? Some of those include eye coordination, depth perception, color blindness, peripheral vision or awareness, focusing ability and more. With conditions such as glaucoma, a comprehensive exam can literally save your vision, as it can detect subtle changes in eyesight that you may not even be aware of.

With our comprehensive eye exams, we will measure your visual acuity, generally with an eye chart where you will have to identify specific letters and numbers. We will also have your eyes examined through a special machine where we can see if the muscles and tissues inside your eye are functioning properly. The AOA recommends that you receive an eye exam at least every two years, if not more often. If you haven’t had a recent exam, let us check your eyes for any abnormalities. Simply call our Optical Masters office at (720) 780-8881. It could just end up saving your vision!