Understanding 20/20 Vision
One of the most common questions we hear at Ottico Eyecare from new patients is: “should I wear my glasses all the time?”
The answer depends on your specific prescription and what you are doing. To understand why, we first need to look at what those numbers—like 20/20 or 20/60—actually mean for your eyes.
What Does 20/20 Vision Actually Mean?
Visual acuity is measured against a standard distance of 20 feet. At this distance, the natural lens of a healthy eye is at its most relaxed state.
- 20/20 Vision: This is the standard for “normal” vision. It means you can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision should see at 20 feet.
- 20/60 Vision: This means that to see an object clearly, you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see from 60 feet away.
When you put on your Ottico prescription glasses, we are correcting your vision to 20/20, allowing your eyes to see clearly at distances that were previously blurry.
How Your Eyes “Work” (The Concept of Accommodation)
Your eye has a natural lens that changes shape to help you focus. Think of it like a camera lens zooming in and out.
- Distance Viewing (Relaxed): When looking at something 20 feet away or further, your eye muscle is relaxed.
- Near Viewing (Working): When you bring an object closer than 20 feet (like a book or a phone), your lens must accommodate. To do this, the internal muscles of the eye contract, causing the lens to “bulge” to bring the image into focus.
When to Wear Your Glasses (And When to Give Your Eyes a Break)
If you are nearsighted (myopic), your glasses are specifically designed to help you see things far away.
Reading with Glasses
If you keep your distance glasses on while reading, you are forcing your eyes to work (accommodate) just as hard as a person with perfect 20/20 vision. For some, this can lead to eye strain and fatigue during long study sessions.
If you have a mild prescription (like 20/60), you might find that removing your glasses while reading actually feels more comfortable. This is because your “uncorrected” vision is already naturally focused for closer ranges, requiring less effort from your eye muscles.
The Contact Lens Factor
Unlike glasses, you cannot easily “pop out” contact lenses when you sit down to read.
- The Tip: If you wear contact lenses for 20/20 distance vision but do a lot of close-up office work, we recommend wearing a pair of +1.00 “reading” or “computer” glasses over your contacts.
- The Benefit: This “relaxes” the focus for you, significantly reducing eye strain during long digital tasks.
Age and Your Vision
Your ability to “accommodate” or focus on close objects changes with age:
- Young Eyes: Younger people have very flexible lenses. They can usually wear their glasses or contacts all day without feeling strain, as their eyes adjust easily.
- Mature Eyes (Presbyopia): As we get older, the lens becomes less flexible. This is why many people over 40 eventually need reading glasses or multifocal lenses to see near objects clearly.
Expert Advice at Ottico Eyecare
At Ottico, we don’t just sell frames; we provide lifestyle vision solutions. Whether you need the perfect pair of distance glasses for driving or a dedicated pair of reading glasses for the office, our Nairobi-based team is here to guide you.
