How Bad is 20/80 Vision? An In-Depth Guide - 33rd Square (2024)

Hey there! If you were just told you have 20/80 vision, you may be wondering what that really means for your eyesight. As an optometrist who specializes in visual impairment, let me walk you through all the details on 20/80 vision – from what it is to how it affects your daily life and treatment options. My goal is to help you understand your eyes better and make the most of your vision.

Defining 20/80 Vision

20/20 vision is considered normal visual acuity – meaning you can clearly see at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. With 20/80 vision, you see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 80 feet.

To understand this concept, envision looking at an eye chart in an optometrist‘s office. The top few lines have larger letters that are legible even with impaired acuity. But as the letters get smaller on lower lines, they eventually reach a size that you cannot identify from 20 feet away.

Someone with 20/20 vision could discern letters down to the 80 foot line from 20 feet. But with 20/80 vision, the smallest legible line would be the one marked for 80 feet. Hence, you can only see at 20 feet what a normal eye sees clearly at 80 feet.

So in summary, 20/80 means your visual acuity is reduced to about 50% of average. But you still have moderately functional vision versus total blindness.

Impacts on Daily Life

You may be wondering – how noticeable will day-to-day life be with 20/80 vision versus normal sight? Here are some key ways it affects daily activities:

• Driving – Reading road signs from a distance becomes difficult. Night driving is more challenging with glare sensitivity. Overall safety risks increase, especially on highways.

• Reading – You‘ll need to hold books or devices closer without magnification. Small font looks blurry. Eye strain occurs faster.

• Screens – Seeing details on phones, computers, and TVs requires sitting near to the screen. Eye fatigue can worsen.

• Faces & Objects – Recognizing people, expressions, or objects across a room or street becomes hard. You lose that ability to make out fine details from afar.

• Walking – Navigating uneven terrain has higher fall risk. Steps, curbs, and obstructions are not as defined from a distance.

• Sports & Events – Trouble following ball games, concerts, and shows without sitting near the front. Can‘t see fine details or appreciate the full scope.

While inconvenient at times, living an active, independent lifestyle is certainly achievable with 20/80 vision through various adaptive techniques. But some compromises in mobility and activities may be required for safety and comfort.

What Causes 20/80 Vision?

There are a variety of eye conditions that can reduce visual acuity to the 20/80 range. The most common include:

• Refractive Errors – nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia. Light focus is off due to the eye‘s shape.

• Cataracts – Clouding in the lens blocks and scatters light passing to the retina. Common with old age but can occur earlier.

• Macular Degeneration – Damage to the retina‘s macula from aging causes blurriness in central vision.

• Diabetic Retinopathy – High blood sugar damages vessels in the retina, causing abnormal leakage, growths and scarring.

• Glaucoma – Increased eye pressure damages the optic nerve over time. Peripheral vision is affected first.

Less common causes include corneal problems, optic nerve conditions, eye injuries, lazy eye, and retinal detachment. Only a comprehensive eye exam can determine the exact cause for you. But the good news is, many causes can be treated to improve visual acuity.

How Does 20/80 Vision Compare to Normal, Moderate and Legal Blindness?

To give you better perspective on where 20/80 vision falls on the visual impairment scale, here is how it compares to normal sight and varying degrees of vision loss:

As you can see, 20/80 falls into the mild vision loss range based on the World Health Organization scale. It is above moderate impairment which starts at 20/200.

For reference, legal blindness in the US is defined as 20/200 acuity or worse in your better eye. This means you see at 20 feet what a normal eye sees clearly from 200 feet away – a 90% reduction in visual acuity versus average.

So while frustrating at times, you can take comfort in knowing your vision with 20/80 is still about twice as sharp as someone who is considered legally blind. It leaves you with functional vision to safely perform most daily tasks.

Can Treatment Improve 20/80 Vision?

In many cases, yes – treatment can enhance visual acuity from 20/80 toward a normal range depending on the cause. Options include:

• Eyeglasses – For refractive errors, prescription lenses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism can sharpen acuity.

  See Also

  What Is 20/20 Vision? (Visual Acuity Measurements Explained)

• Contact Lenses – Contacts are another option to correct refractive errors and provide better focus.

• Surgery – Cataract removal is highly effective at restoring lost vision. LASIK can correct some refractive causes of blurriness.

• Medication – Drugs to control diabetes, glaucoma and macular degeneration may prevent further damage and vision loss.

• Low Vision Aids – Magnifiers, telescopes, CCTVs and other devices maximize use of remaining vision.

• Vision Therapy – Exercises to improve eye coordination, focusing and processing skills.

Talk to your optometrist or ophthalmologist to determine if any treatment options could improve your eyesight and daily function. The degree of possible improvement depends on the specific cause. But even a small gain in acuity can make a big difference in easing difficulty with tasks like driving and reading.

Coping Tips for Living with 20/80 Vision

If your visual acuity remains in the 20/80 range despite treatment, don‘t worry – there are many adaptive techniques and tools to help you make the most of your eyesight:

• Use handheld or wearable magnifiers to temporarily enlarge text when reading books, menus, signs, etc.

• Install proper lighting in your home to reduce glare, shadows and fall risks in low light.

• Sit close to the TV and adjust settings for maximum clarity and text size. Upgrade to a larger screen if possible.

• Carry a small telescope to quickly magnify signs, bus numbers, prices and other distant objects when out and about.

• Tell restaurants and venues you need large print menus, programs, signs etc. Sit closer to stages or screens.

• Use audiobooks, screen readers, talking devices and other audio assistants to give your eyes a break.

• Apply for low vision disability benefits like tax deductions and transportation services based on your qualification.

• See an occupational therapist to evaluate your home environment and suggest vision-friendly adaptations.

• Ask your eye doctor about vision rehabilitation programs that provide instruction, assistive devices and orientation/mobility training tailored to your needs.

Stay positive! With some lifestyle adjustments and visual aids, people with 20/80 vision can confidently maintain independence and activities they enjoy. I‘m always happy to answer any other questions on managing vision changes. Wishing you all the best, my friend!

Related