Questions about Visual Acuity (doctor, glasses, eyes, nurse)

[steve147]

Someone give me a little education on the subject. I'll soon be taking a physical / medical evaluation for a prospective job that requires me to have 20/60 uncorrected and correctable to 20/20. I don't wear glasses or contacts and never have, but I still don't feel that my vision is 20/20 (perfect). Are the Doctor / nurse provided tests the only way to measure, or are there any links that can help me get a ballpark of where I stand? Is 20/60 really bad, or just less than perfect? I don't think I have terrible vision, just less than perfect.

[dsh1127]

I was an Optometric Assistant for quite a few years, so maybe I can help you a little!

Do you drive and read street signs okay? I would think by the way you describe your vision, you would be within the parameters mentioned. 20/60 vision is not horrible, but I would think you would be having more issues than you mention.

I think the only way to know for sure is to get your eyes checked. By what you say, I would guess that you could be at 20/30 or 20/40, but some people go through life not even realizing that they could be seeing things alot better! I had people come into my office that I was amazed that they even functioned, their vision was so bad, but they insisted that they could see just fine!!

My vision, uncorrected is 20/600!! No, I didn't put too many zeros in there!! They don't use the eye chart for me, because I can't even see the big E! The first time I got contacts I was amazed at how crisp everything looked - it was like being in a different world!!

Good Luck!