Do I need glasses?

[thecritic]

So a few days ago, our school district sent some people down to our high school to give us our annual vision exam.

I failed.

I got "20/50," whatever that means.

Supposedly, the nurse told me that the 20 stands for my right eye, and the left is a "50."

So do I need glasses?

I can read this just fine, but is there a serious problem?

Michael

 

[Wadded Beef]

have fun in your car! and stay faaar away from me while you're at it

 

[bigalt]

from my limited understanding of such things, i think that the 20/50 means that you can see things at 20 feet that "normal" people see at 50 feet.


Of course with everyone staring at computer screens all day I'm sure they're going to have to redefine the second number...

 

[wahoyaho]

only when you reach 100/100

 

[shopbruin]

the nurse told you that?! i wonder what would happen if you ever got sick.

you don't need them, but it helps from time to time.

 

[Wadded Beef]

my vision is around 20/200 (no that's not a typo) and yes i wear glasses

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: wanmichael
So a few days ago, our school district sent some people down to our high school to give us our annual vision exam.

I failed.

I got "20/50," whatever that means.

Supposedly, the nurse told me that the 20 stands for my right eye, and the left is a "50."

So do I need glasses?

I can read this just fine, but is there a serious problem?

Michael

Uh... I was told that 20/20 means that you see an an object 20 feet away as if it were 20 feet away; 20/50 would be seeing an object that is 20 feet away as if it were 50 feet away.

 

[Kelemvor]

You get a rating for each eye. Your left eye could be 20/30 and your right eye could be 20/60. That nurse was a dumbass. Just go get an exam at some local optical place and see what they say. But if you aren't driving and think you can see fine, then don't worry about it. The DMV will tell you if you need glasses.

 

[J Heartless Slick]

Get a checkup by a optometrist or opthalmologist. If they say you need glasses, get them and wear them for awhile.

The glasses might improve your vision enough that it will be worthwhile for you.

 

[aircooled]

you need glasses, and you have bad information. make an appointment with a real eye-doctor

 

[mobobuff]

You're all wrong, the X/X system (or Snellen system) is based on that chart you look at when you get your eyes tested.

If you're vision is 20/20, you are considered average. From 20 feet away, you can read on that chart what should be readable from 20 feet away. If you're 20/40, from 20 feet you can read only what is readable at 40 feet. The rating system doesn't take into account other things such as nearsightedness or peripheral perception. It only measures what you can read at a certain distance straight ahead of you.

20/200 is considered legally blind.