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Monday, April 12, 2010

Wear Eyewear of Orland Park on Facebook!

Our Orland Park location is now on Facebook!  Become a Fan and see what is going on down in our Orland location.

We are on Facebook as:     Wear Eyewear of Orland Park

If you aren't already a fan of our Chicago location, check that out too:   Wear Eyewear



Jordan Jones, O.D.

What is 20/20 Vision?

So you've been going to the eye doctor your entire life.  You've heard people say they have 20/20 vision.  Heck, there is even a television program named 20/20. But....what does that really mean?


Eye care professionals need a way to quantify how your vision stacks up to everybody else.  When you go to visit your eye doctor and he/she has you read the letters on the chart, this is exactly what is happening.  We are attempting to understand exactly how well you can see compared to the standard or "perfect eye."


The "perfect eye" has been determined over time to be able to distinguish a certain size letter or symbol at a distance of 20 feet.  If you are able to distinguish this same size letter accurately...you have 20/20 vision.  


In other words, think of it as a contest between you and someone with "perfect eyes"  You are standing right beside each other seeing who can read the smallest line of letters.  The "perfect eye" goes first and from 20 feet away can read all the way down to the bottom of the chart.  Now its your turn.  If you too can read all the way down to the bottom.....you both tie.... and your vision is considered 20/20.  The first number 20 is how far you were away from the chart, the second 20 was how far away the "perfect eye" was to read the same line. 


What if you can't read that bottom line though?  Well the bigger the letters, the farther away the "perfect eye" could stand away from the chart and read the letters accurately.  For example, let's say you can only see the "Big E" at the top of the chart.  Well, the "perfect eye" was able to read that letter from 400 feet away!!  However, you are only 20 feet away from it.  Remembering from our example above, your vision would then be 20/400.  (First number is your eye, second number is the "perfect eye")


Hopefully the next time you come in to visit me, you will have a better understanding of exactly what it means to be 20/20!


Jordan Jones, O.D.