What is 20/80 vision?

20/80 vision means that a person sees best at 80 feet what others see at 20 feet. A person with this range of eyesight will typically see at a distance that is about fifty percent farther away than a person with a perfect vision which would be 20/20. This might feel strange for you if you’re used to seeing up close and personal!

Common misconceptions about 20/80 vision

The main misconception about 20/80 vision is that it’s always caused by simply being nearsighted. This, however, is only true for about fifty percent of the people who have 20/80 eyesight. The other half of people who have this level of eyesight are born with or develop it in adulthood due to cataracts, glaucoma, or other conditions like macular degeneration. Depending on the cause of the condition, there may be different methods of dealing with it.

What does 20/80 vision look like?

A person with 20/80 vision due to nearsightedness will be able to see details and objects well up close, but the clarity and sharpness of their vision start to fade as things get further away. Someone with this range of eyesight may notice that faces become blurry and out-of-focus when they’re in a group of people. This is especially the case when the person with 20/80 vision tries to see at night or when there isn’t enough light.

How can I tell if I have 20/80 eyesight?

You may be wondering how you can know for certain whether or not you have 20/80 eyesight. You may need to visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist in order to get your eyes tested. The doctor will be able to tell you if your vision is 20/20, 20/30, 20/50, or another number on the scale of 20/xx based on a chart that measures how well you see.
Ways that people with 20/80 vision might be able to overcome the disadvantages

One way to overcome any disadvantages of your condition is to wear glasses or contacts. Glasses and contacts can help you see better by providing optical correction for your vision. Another option, if the doctor says it’s possible, would be to get surgery to correct your eyesight. Bifocals might also help, but only if they’re prescribed for people with a refractive error that gives 20/80 vision specifically. If it is disease-related it won’t help entirely. The bifocal glasses can be used as a low-vision aid and will allow you to see well up close and across the room without having to switch between corrective lenses.

When a person is diagnosed with 20/80 vision, what can they expect going forward?

If you’ve been diagnosed with 20/80 eyesight, then you can expect to have even more difficulty seeing as time goes on due to cataracts or other conditions that gradually worsen your vision. If this happens, then there will be more things you won’t be able to do because of your eyesight, like sitting through a movie without straining, reading the fine print on forms or signs, seeing people’s faces up close, etc.

People with 20/80 vision due to macular degeneration or another eye disease should be aware of the warning signs and symptoms
If you have 20/80 vision due to macular degeneration or another eye disease, then it’s important to know the warning signs and symptoms. These include: trouble seeing at night or in dimly lit areas, noticing that everything is more blurry than it used to be, experiencing a rapid decline in your eyesight, and having fluid or blood appear in your eyes.

How you can be proactive about your 20/80 vision?

If you’ve been diagnosed with 20/80 vision, make an appointment with your doctor to figure out what’s causing it and how you can best deal with the condition. Some people can get their eyesight corrected with glasses or contacts, while others may be able to have surgery if they have glaucoma or another condition. In any case, it’s important for you to know what your treatment options are and the benefits of each. If the decrease in vision is caused by macular degeneration or another eye disease, then it’s important to keep an eye on the condition. If there are any warning signs or symptoms that you experience, then make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

If the 20/80 vision is found to be permanent you have a condition called low vision. Low vision is characterized by eyesight that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. With this condition, you will need a magnifier, a CCTV, or a Talking Viewer in order to read.

Low vision devices are designed to help people with low vision read, write and continue their daily activities. A CCTV or a Talking Viewer is designed for 20/80 vision. This device will magnify what the person is trying to see and speak what they’re reading aloud. These are helpful in situations where you need to read something that’s not printed in big letters, like the fine print on forms or signs, or when you’re reading at night or in dimly lit areas. There are many different types of low vision devices, including magnifiers and special telescopes.

As you can see, 20/80 eyesight is not good for reading or seeing things up close and would be very difficult to do so without corrective lenses or low vision devices.

Can people with 20/80 vision drive?

If your vision is due to just having a refractive error that decreases your vision such as being near or far-sighted then simply getting glasses or contacts will correct it so you can drive. If it is due to a low vision condition then you may need a bioptic telescope to get you to approximately 20/40 for most states to pass the test.

Since 20/80 vision is a condition where a person sees best at 80 feet what others see at 20 feet. The legal limit for driving in the USA is 20/40. If you have been diagnosed with this condition and it is not due to an eye disease or age-related macular degeneration then you can expect that as time goes by your vision will probably not change much. If it is due to disease it is more likely to continue changing. If you can see 20/40 out of at least one eye then you may be able to pass the driving test and your license wouldn’t be restricted to daylight driving only. If your vision is worse than 20/40 but better than 20/100 in both eyes you may need a bioptic telescopic system and could get a restricted license for daytime driving only. Every state has different regulations but this is a good rule of thumb for most.

Does having 20/80 vision mean you are legally blind?

No, not necessarily. If your vision is worse than 20/200 then you would be legally blind. But if your vision is between 20/80 and 20/200 and you can still see reasonably well, then you are considered to have low vision. In either case, it’s important for people with 20/80 vision to know the dangers of driving even if they’ve been able to pass the test so far.

Does 20/80 vision affect color vision?

Yes, some people with 20/80 vision experience decreased color ability. Most people with this condition are not able to distinguish the difference between blues and greens as easily. Especially if this is due to cataracts or macular degeneration. It may be decreased but not absolute.

Can 20/80 vision cause headaches?

Yes, it can. If you have to strain your eyes in order to see things in the distance then this will cause tension in the muscles around your eyes and could lead to a headache or migraine. This is one of the reasons that people with low vision may benefit from having special lenses and devices.

Is 20/80 vision hereditary?

It is possible to inherit low vision conditions but not usually the refractive error that causes 20/80. You can inherit macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, and other medical conditions that cause low vision. People with a family history of these conditions should pay close attention to their eye health and have regular exams with an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Can 20/80 vision be caused by something other than age-related conditions or eye diseases?

Yes, it can. Cataracts and macular degeneration are the most common causes of low vision and can cause 20/80 vision but there are many other possible causes such as trauma to the eyes, optic nerve lesions, tumors, and more. If you notice a significant vision change it’s important to see an ophthalmologist or optometrist right away so they can determine the cause and proper treatment.

What is a bioptic telescope?

A bioptic telescope is a low vision aid that is often used by people with 20/80 vision. It consists of a small telescope mounted in the top of the carrier lens or flipped into place. This gives your central vision the magnification it needs to see better. Some people use a bioptic telescope in combination with a direct view lens. This is a carrier lens that has a spot where the magnification section would be, typically 2.2x to 4x for this type of device. With both these lenses in place, it’s easier for you to see things at a distance but they don’t help your near vision unless a reading cap is placed over the telescope.

If you are experiencing 20/80 vision, it is important to know how this might affect your day-to-day life. Vision changes can be subtle or drastic and often come on gradually so they are easy to ignore until the problem becomes more severe. This blog post discussed some of the common eye diseases that cause low vision as well as ways for people with 20/80 eyesight to stay proactive about their health. The best way to protect your eyesight is by seeing an ophthalmologist or optometrist regularly for a comprehensive exam. We hope this information will help keep you healthy! If you have any questions about our services please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]