Bayfields Opticians - Eye Tests (2024)

FAQs

How can I get good eye exam results? ›

Drivers must have visibility at 20/40 with both eyes combined (e.g. one eye visibility at 20/40 and the other eye visibility at 20/70). Anyone not meeting this vision standard is required to wear corrective lenses while driving (such as glasses or contact lenses).

There are many potential drawbacks to taking an online vision test. They're not as accurate as in-person eye exams, so you can't detect if you have astigmatism or other refractive errors. They can't detect all types of vision problems, like glaucoma or cataracts.

An optometrist has the rare opportunity to see your eyes in microscopic detail, which almost no one else ever does – so an eye test is the perfect time to conduct a very thorough test of the current condition of your eyes.

If you want to get the best results from your eye exam — and the most accurate prescription — research suggests 8 a.m. or 8 p.m. is the best time to book your eye exam.

Definition of 20/40 vision

People who can stand 20 feet from the eye chart and comfortably read line 8 are said to have 20/20 vision, which is normal. If you can read line 5 with no problem, that's 20/40 vision.

The Snellen chart usually shows 11 rows of capital letters. The first line has one very large letter. Each row after that has increasing numbers of letters that are smaller in size. You stand 20 feet away from the Snellen chart, and read from it without your glasses or contacts.

If you can read the “20/40” row or lower (and have passable peripheral vision), you should be able to pass the DMV vision test.

These eye tests can be helpful in some situations, like if you break or lose your glasses when you're far from home and you need a prescription to get new ones. But they can't replace regular visits to your eye doctor. That's because they are only about vision -- they don't check the health of your eyes.

How can I test my eyesight at home? ›

Keep both eyes open and cover one eye with the palm of the hand. Read the chart, beginning with the top line and moving down the lines until it is too difficult to read the letters. Record the number of the smallest line that you know you read correctly. Repeat with the other eye.

Invented in 1862 by a Dutch ophthalmologist named Herman Snellen, the Snellen chart remains the most widespread technique in clinical practice for measuring visual acuity. [1][2] The Snellen chart serves as a portable tool to quickly assess monocular and binocular visual acuity.

Understanding Your Test Results

Someone with a best corrected visual acuity result of 20/200 is considered legally blind. While it's possible to have vision even more advanced than 20/20 (without a visual aid, like binoculars), the limit is thought to be around 20/10.

Answer: In the United States we think of "normal" vision as being 20/20, although maximum human acuity is even finer at 20/16 to 20/12. Therefore, interestingly, "normal" acuity is not "perfect" vision. The common 20/20 vision standard can be considered the lower limit of normal or as a screening cutoff.

Hold your thumb 10 inches from your face and focus on it for 15 seconds. Alternatively, you can hold a near object with a letter on it to better engage your focusing system. After fifteen seconds, shift your gaze to a target 20 feet (6 meters) away, and again, hold your focus for 15 seconds. Return to your thumb.

To enhance focusing ability, hold a small object like a finger or a pen at arm's length. Focus on it for a few seconds, then switch your gaze to a distant object. Alternate between near and far objects for a minute or two. This exercise improves the flexibility and coordination of your eye muscles.