Many of us are of the belief that we have 20/20, and may not even realize that the truth is a different number entirely, but what do these numbers mean anyhow? Optical prescriptions can leave many of us wondering if the doctor truly has our vision correct, and their explanations can often leave you feeling even more confused than you were to begin with. Knowledge is power, and knowing your optical strengths and weaknesses and what they mean for you can assist you in making more informed decisions about your vision. Our team at your local
Ellicott City eye doctor of Quality Optical of Columbia believes that informed patients make better choices, and as such we will work with you to answer all of your questions about 20/20 vision, and how your optical prescription works to help you achieve it.
Ellicott City Eye Exams
Our eyes are one of the most important organs in our bodies, and as such taking care of them properly should be one of our top priorities. The first step to proper care of your vision is being informed on your current optical strengths and what they mean for your sight. 20/20 vision for most of us simply means clear vision, but the actual meaning of this number is far more complicated than that. In truth, 20/20 only represents a fraction of your vision, known as your visual acuity or ability to see at a distances. When written down as your visual acuity number, 20/20 means that your eyes are seeing objects and words at twenty feet away exactly as a normal person would, without the need for optical lenses to assist you. Better than 20/20, such as 20/10 means that your eyes are seeing at twenty feet away as clearly as most people see objects at only ten feet. Visual acuity is only one of the many optical tests performed in a comprehensive eye exam at your trusted
Ellicott City eye doctor.
When it comes to optical prescriptions, everyone’s is personal and unique, and often changes over time. If the numbers on your prescription are designated with a negative sign, this means your vision condition is nearsightedness, where as a plus sign for positive numbers is indicative of the presence of farsightedness. The greater the numbers on your prescription, the more problematic your sight condition is, and often requires thicker lenses to correct the issue. Patients with myopia or hyperopia will find only two sets of numbers for each eye, while those with astigmatism require three, for specially shaped lenses to help them see better at any distances. Remember, 20/20 is only a fraction of your vision, not perfect vision as a whole. To receive a comprehensive eye exams from our
Ellicott City eye doctor, the only way to insure your eyes are truly seeing their best, be sure to visit our state of the art offices at Quality Optical of Columbia for clear vision you can count on.
Eye Exams Ellicott City
8860 Columbia 100 Parkway
Columbia, Maryland 21045
410-696-4195
By Quality Optical
September 23, 2013
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