20/25 Vision: Is It Good or Bad

Having 20/25 vision means having eyesight that is considered just out of the normal range. Normal vision is called 20/20 vision.

The numbers 20 and 25 mean that someone with this visual acuity must stand five feet closer to an object than someone with 20/20 vision does to see it clearly.

People with 20/25 vision can strengthen their sight by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses or by undergoing LASIK surgery.

Introduction

20/25 is a measured result of an eye test designed to examine visual strength. In means that you can see an object clearly while standing 20 feet away from it, while someone who has normal (20/20) vision can see it clearly from 25 feet away.

People with 20/25 vision have eyesight that is slightly below average, but it is sight that can be corrected by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses or by undergoing LASIK surgery.

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What Is the Difference Between 20/20 Vision and 20/25 Vision?

Individuals with normal eyesight have 20/20 vision. In simple terms, it means that their eyes see an object clearly when they are at 20 feet. It is also what an average individual would see if they stood at the same distance.

People tend to confuse 20/20 and 20/25 vision because of how close sounding the two are. With 20/25 vision, individuals need to move 5 feet closer to the object to see. When it comes to 20/20 vision, the person doesn’t need to move closer to the object to see it. It will still appear clear to them even when they are 25 feet away.

Factors Affecting Visual Acuity

Visual acuity is the measure of your eye’s ability to view fine details from a certain distance. Your eye doctor does this test using a Snellen chart, which contains letters of different sizes separated by red and green lines.

When doing the test, you stand at 20 feet from the chart and try reading the letters on the chart. If you can read the letters below the green line, your vision is 20/25 or more. If you have normal vision, your acuity score will be 20/20 or 6/6.

Several factors affect the results of your visual acuity test, including:

• Pupil size
• Neural factors
• Refractive errors
• Illumination

Pupil Size 

The size of the pupil affects how light is spread on the retina, affecting the eye’s resolution. Pupil size of 3 to 5 mm will allow the right amount of light to enter the eye. With enough light, resolution will not be affected.

Neural Factors

These affect the retina or the pathway taking information to the brain, including conditions such as amblyopia, stroke, or traumatic brain injury. For example, macular degeneration is an eye disease that affects the part of the eye where images form (retina). 

Refractive Errors

Refractive errors are eyesight problems that occur because of the shape of your eye. It makes images that go to the retina go out of focus.

The retina is part of the eye where images form. Refractive errors limit your ability to focus on images and, in turn, affect your visual acuity. 

Light Levels (Illumination)

The amount of light present in a room also affects your visual acuity. If there is too little light, you will have a lower acuity score. But if there is enough light available, you will record a higher visual acuity.

Is 20/25 Vision Bad?

20/25 vision is not bad. It’s just weaker than someone with normal vision.

The World Health Organization puts 20/25 visions in the same category as 20/20. It means that people with 20/25 vision can see almost as clearly as those with normal eyesight. Even with 20/25 vision, you can still do many things like reading without glasses.

Do I Need Glasses, Corrective Lenses, or Surgery for the Treatment of 20/25 Vision?

20/25 vision is one step away from the standard of 20/20 vision. That means that your eyesight is good, and any form of vision correction may not be necessary. 

Nevertheless, there are instances where you may need to correct your 20/25 vision, such as:

• Occupational reasons
• Old age
• Underlying eye conditions

To correct your 20/25 vision, your eye doctor might prescribe the following treatments:

• Eyeglasses: it is the most cost-effective method of correcting your vision to 20/25 vision. They are more suitable if you work in areas with dry and dusty conditions.
• Contact lenses: the lenses are best for people with large pupil sizes. It also doesn’t restrict the amount of light entering the eye. However, they are not suitable for people operating in places with air contaminants.
• LASIK: is a minimally invasive eye surgery that helps correct low-eye vision. You will not require glasses or contact lenses after the surgery.

References

1. What Does 20/20 Vision Mean? (January 2022). American Academy of Ophthalmology.

2. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. (June 2021). National Eye Institute

3. Using a Snellen Visual Acuity Chart. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

4. Visual Acuity. (June 2007). Department of Optometry and the Vision Sciences University of Melbourne.

5. Characteristics and outcomes of older emergency department patients assigned a low acuity triage score. (September 2018). National Library of Medicine.

6. Visual Acuity Testing. (October 2015). University of Iowa Ophthalmology.

7. Driving eyesight rules. Government of United Kingdom. 

8. Laser In Situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the treatment of low moderate, and high myopia. (1997). National Library of Medicine.

9. Vision and Work. (Retrieved January 2022). Occupational Health and Safety.