What does it mean when your Optometrist says you see '20/20'? It means that when standing at a distance of 20 feet from the eye chart, you can see the same row of letters that a person of average vision can see at the same distance. If you have 20/100 vision, for example, it means you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet. Visual acuity is often measured according to the size of letters viewed on a Snellen eye chart, which is a measure of the sharpness of sight. However, it does not tell you anything about how the brain is processing what you see.
Our visual system uses 65% of ALL our brain pathways - that is how complicated it is! '20/20' vision represents a very small portion of this process.
There are actually over 20 different visual skills that are not detected by reading the eye chart. These abilities are learned and developed through our experiences interacting with our environment from birth. Experience is extremely important to visual development.
What is vision? "Vision" is the ability to understand and interpret information that comes through our eyes. This is very different from "sight" which is the ability to see and the eyes response to light shining in it.
The visual system is a significant player in how we process information and plays a big role in how we learn. 80% of what you perceive, comprehend, and remember depends on the efficiency of the visual system.
