Eye Health: Vision Basics

To maintain good eye health and vision, it is important to see an eye health-care provider at least once per year, or immediately if you have any degree of sudden vision loss, eye pain, or irritation. Having a complete exam with an eye specialist once a year is important because most eye diseases can be treated when found in an early stage. If you have health problems such as diabetes, you may need to visit your eye doctor more frequently to detect any complications.

What Does It Mean to Have 20/20 Vision?

20/20 vision describes visual acuity, or the sharpness of vision at 20 feet from an object. Having 20/60 vision means that you must be at 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 60 feet. 20/20 does not translate into perfect vision and does not indicate other important aspects of sight such as peripheral vision, the ability to see colors, or depth perception.

What Does Visual Acuity Mean?

Visual acuity, also called central vision, is the ability to distinguish details and shapes of objects. It does not include depth perception, peripheral vision, or color blindness.

What Tests Are Used to Determine Visual Acuity?

There are various tests, like the "Random E Test," that can be used to determine the visual acuity of infants, children, and adults. These tests are noninvasive, painless, reliable, and can be performed almost anywhere. The results will give your eye health-care provider information about your sight and what prescription you will need to correct it. Visual acuity tests are fairly simple and can be performed by a technician, nurse, doctor, optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist.

What Options Are Available to Correct Impaired Vision?

There are many safe and affordable choices available for those in need of vision correction. They include:

• Eyeglasses. Perhaps the most traditional form of vision correction, eyeglasses improve vision by bending light. They are also practical, affordable, and safe.
• Contact Lenses. Contacts are more suitable for people with an active lifestyle. They work the same way as eyeglasses, but stay in place better during physical activities. Being outdoors also means being in the sun, and contacts allow you to wear sunglasses at the same time. There are many different brands, colors and materials, so it is best to shop around to find the contacts that work best for you.
• Corrective Surgery. Vision correction surgery improves sight by changing the refractive, or light bending, properties of the eye. Refractive surgery is not cosmetic, but is functional because it restores a person's ability to see at a moderate visual acuity, meaning they may still need to wear glasses or contacts.

Does Health Insurance Cover the Cost of Eye Care?

Most vision health coverage plans will cover a portion or all of the expenses associated with vision care. It is best to check with your health insurance provider to determine the limits of your coverage. If you do not have vision health insurance, some doctors may work with you to set up an affordable payment plan.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute.