What is perfect vision? Is it the same as the 20/20 vision?

There is so much confusion amongst the general public on what perfect vision is. Do you have perfect vision if you pass an eye exam or are able to read the small prints of the newspaper clearly?

Not having eye conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, among others, doesn't mean that you have perfect vision. In fact, a good vision goes beyond just the mere absence of vision problems and errors. Many even consider 20/20 vision as perfect vision.

We are here to help you understand, “what is perfect vision and how is it different from 20/20 vision?” First, let’s understand, “what is 20/20 vision?”

What is 20/20 vision?

20/20 vision is a term used to define the clarity of one’s vision measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, it means that you are able to see something 20 feet away as clearly as someone standing right in front of it.

Similarly, if someone has 20/100 vision, it means that an object can be seen clearly by them from 20 feet away, whereas someone with a normal vision can see that object with the same clarity from a distance of 100 feet.

While this is the most popular method used to measure visual performance, it needs to be noted that it only indicates sharpness and clarity of someone’s vision at a certain distance.

Visual acuity can be affected by multiple factors, ranging from refractive errors to eye diseases. And having a 20/20 visual acuity doesn’t mean that you have a perfect vision. But then, “what is perfect vision?” Read on to know about it!

What is perfect vision?

Using the terms “20/20 vision” and “perfect vision” interchangeably is not the right thing to do.

There are many components that make up a good eyesight, apart from visual clarity when looking at things nearby or at a distance. These include eye coordination, contrast sensitivity, peripheral vision, colour contrast, and depth perception, among others, as all these aspects are major components of your overall vision.

If you pass an eye chart test at an optometrist’s clinic, it only determines the sharpness of your vision. If you fail an eye chart test, you will be prescribed prescription glasses for eyesight correction. The point that we are trying to make here is that an eye chart test would only check your sharpness of vision measured at a certain distance.

The eye chart is not enough to measure crucial vision parameters such as how well your eyes coordinate at various distances or how efficiently they can change focus from close to far distances. What this means is that you may have 20/20 vision but still face problems with other aspects of your vision.

Coming back to the question, “what is perfect vision?” Perfect vision is a term that is used very casually today, and in medical terms, there is probably nothing such as perfect vision. And one should not use the term “20/20 vision” and “perfect vision” interchangeably.

Would you need glasses if you have 20/20 vision?

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll need prescription glasses if you have 20/20 vision as this level of visual acuity is sufficient for you to carry out day-to-day activities with clarity of vision. However, your optometrist is in the best place to prescribe whether you need glasses for eyesight correction or not.

If you have a high screen time, then you can opt for blue light glasses that come with a protective filter with a function of blocking most of the blue light emitted from digital screens.

Even people with 20/20 vision can experience digital eye strain due to exposure to digital screens. In such a case, using blue light glasses can help you deal with digital eye strain.

Why do you need a regular eye test?

A comprehensive eye test carried out by a certified optometrist can check for vision problems that are not related to your visual acuity. Early detection and treatment of these problems is important to avoid complications in the future.

You can book your free eye test with us and visit any of our stores for a comprehensive eye test to know about the overall health of your eyes. We use the latest high-tech machines for eye tests, and these are conducted by expert optometrists.