When we discuss the effects of AMD, we talk about two main aspects of it: visual acuity and visual impairment. Let’s talk about visual acuity. Later, I’ll have more about how AMD can affect one’s vision in terms of blurriness, distortions, and blind spots.
What is visual acuity? My online dictionary defines it as, “Sharpness of vision, measured by the ability to discern letters or numbers at a given distance according to a fixed standard.” In the US, the “fixed standard” is the Snellen Chart where you are asked to read rows of numbers that are placed in front of you.
This is a Snellen Eye Chart. There are other methods but this is the one most often used in the US. When you see this chart at the eye doctor’s office, you won’t see the 20/20 through 20/200 marks on the side. Click here or on the image to the left to get a bigger image that is printable and comes with If instructions for your use. Your numbers will be determined by the smallest line on the chart you can read.
To learn how the chart is used, click here for a good explanation of it.
This may help you explain to others how your eye doctor came up with numbers like 20/20, 20/40 all the way up to 20/200. A different chart is used for 20/400 and up.
If your visual acuity is To be considered legally blind, your vision needs to be 20/200 or worse, which means you can read an eye chart at 20 feet about as well as someone with normal vision could read it at 200 feet.Click here to go to an article that has images of
https://www.buzzfeed.com/hikaruyoza/20-200-vs-20-20?utm_term=.xkRMrGgOe#.bnyOdyBn3
Common Questions
Can each eye have different visual acuity? Yes.
If I have AMD, can I have 20/20 vision but distortions?
What does it mean if I’m said to be ‘legally blind’?
1) this webpage shows pictures of common sights with a way to compare 20/20 vision to 20/200–>https://www.buzzfeed.com/hikaruyoza/20-200-vs-20-20…
2) the smallest line that can be read on a Snellen Eye Chart—>the image here.
https://gizmodo.com/how-the-20-20-vision-scale-works-1492129290