{"id":1447,"date":"2020-05-13T08:58:46","date_gmt":"2020-05-13T08:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wordpress\/?page_id=1447"},"modified":"2021-08-04T05:04:44","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T05:04:44","slug":"the-myth-of-20-20","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/","title":{"rendered":"The Myth of 20\/20 Vision"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Have you been told that your child has perfect 20\/20 vision, but still not reaching their potential at school?<\/h2>\n<h2><b>What is 20\/20 vision?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/what-is-a-visual-acuity-test\/\">Visual acuity<\/a> is measured by the clarity or sharpness of vision at a distance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The term &#8217;20\/20 vision&#8217; ONLY\u00a0 means that you can see clearly at 20 feet away.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you have &#8217;20\/40 sight&#8217;, it means that at 20 feet away, for you to see an object clearly it must be twice as large as the object a person with 20\/20 sight can see.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Does 20\/20 vision mean &#8216;perfect vision&#8217;?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>No<\/strong><em><strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>There are actually <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/the-17-key-visual-skills\/\">17 key visual skills<\/a>,<\/em> including eye coordination, peripheral vision, focusing ability, depth perception, color vision, etc., that contribute to your ability to successfully perform many routine tasks and activities\u2014 reading, writing, sports, computer use, cell phone use, etc.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, some people can see well at a distance but have difficulty seeing images that are near (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/what-is-long-sightedness\/\">hyperopia<\/a>). Others can see near objects clearly, but have difficulty seeing distant objects (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/what-is-myopia\/\">myopia<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h2><b>School vision screenings<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Many schools conduct vision screenings as a service to try to identify vision problems that may affect their students\u2019 academic performance.\u00a0 It is important to emphasize that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-for-school\/are-school-vision-screenings-effective\/\">these screenings are very limited<\/a> as they only test for vision acuity, or 20\/20 vision.<\/p>\n<p><b>Vision screenings are NOT a substitute for a thorough eye examination performed by an eye doctor.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The vision chart used for screenings does not measure how well your child\u2019s eyes are working for reading, writing, homework, computer use, and all other activities or tasks that require your child to use their visual skills.<\/p>\n<p>Academic performance, as well as many routine tasks are dependent on the integrity of the visual system, namely the eye-brain connection, and the ability of the eyes to work together, effectively.<\/p>\n<p>Whether we are reading words on the board, catching a ball, or paying attention all day at school, we rely on the connection between our eyes and our brain for the ability to complete these daily tasks with ease.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><strong>If you have any concerns about your child&#8217;s vision, schedule an eye exam<\/strong><\/a> with an eye doctor to examine your child&#8217;s eyes, visual skills and eye health.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/could-a-child-with-20-20-sight-have-a-vision-problem\/\">Could a Child with \u201820\/20 Sight\u2019 have a Vision Problem?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find a Vision Therapy Eye Doctor Near You<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>What happens if a vision problem is <\/b><b><i>not <\/i>detected<\/b><b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>It is crucial for parents to understand that reliance on school vision screenings can cause many complications for a child\u2014 screenings can only uncover some vision problems, such as severe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy-for-lazy-eye\/amblyopia-lazy-eye\/\">lazy eye<\/a> or myopia, but cannot effectively identify most of the visual problems experienced by children.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A major concern is that parents will believe that passing a vision screening, means that a child has &#8216;perfect vision&#8217;. This false belief can inhibit detection and treatment of a true vision problem.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to research, 80 percent of learning is based on processing information through the visual system. That being said, it is critical to understand that vision screenings do not suffice as adequate tests of visual acuity and functional vision skills.<\/p>\n<p>The National Parent Teacher Association has reported that over 10 million children in the US suffer from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-and-learning-difficulties\/\">vision problems that can affect learning success<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>The College of Vision Development (COVD) estimates that 25 percent of all school children in the U.S. have vision problems.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Vision problems are one of the most common, handicapping conditions in childhood. Undetected vision problems can inhibit academic success, and even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/sports-vision\/\">athletic performance.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>Comprehensive eye exams<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Comprehensive and regular eye exams at an eye doctor are the only effective measures of ocular and visual health. When vision problems are not detected in childhood, they can significantly affect a person throughout their whole life. Most vision problems can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or a program of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/what-is-vision-therapy\/\">vision therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The key is to detect vision problems before they cause significant problems for your child.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The American Optometrists Association (AOA) recommends that a child\u2019s eyes be examined before starting school and then at least every two years afterwards\u2014 and more frequently if a visual problem is identified.<\/p>\n<p>If you have any concerns regarding your child\u2019s vision or their academic performance,\u00a0 it is important to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/checklist-for-parents-2\/\">recognize the signs of a vision problem<\/a> and schedule an appointment with an eye doctor \u2014 even if your child has \u2018passed\u2019 their school vision screening.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-to-vision-therapy\/\">Guide to Vision Therapy<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><strong>If you have any concerns about your child&#8217;s vision, schedule an eye exam<\/strong><\/a> with an eye doctor to examine your child&#8217;s eyes, visual skills and eye health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you been told that your child has &#8216;perfect 20\/20 vision&#8217;, but is still not reaching their potential at school?<br \/>\nA child can have 20\/20 sight, and still have one or more vision problems affecting their school grades The term &#8217;20\/20 vision&#8217; only\u00a0 means your child has clear distance sight, but they may still have lazy eye, eye tracking, eye focusing or visual information processing issues. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1223,"parent":990,"menu_order":115,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[87,229,111,112,147,153,145,117,149,389],"class_list":["post-1447","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-adhd","tag-contact-lenses","tag-convergence","tag-dyslexia","tag-eye-exam","tag-school","tag-screening","tag-stereopsis","tag-vision-skills","tag-visual-acuity"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Myth of 20\/20 Vision - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Myth of 20\/20 Vision - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Have you been told that your child has &#039;perfect 20\/20 vision&#039;, but is still not reaching their potential at school? A child can have 20\/20 sight, and still have one or more vision problems affecting their school grades The term &#039;20\/20 vision&#039; only\u00a0 means your child has clear distance sight, but they may still have lazy eye, eye tracking, eye focusing or visual information processing issues.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-08-04T05:04:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/eye_chart.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/\",\"name\":\"The Myth of 20\/20 Vision - Optometrists.org\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/eye_chart.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-05-13T08:58:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-08-04T05:04:44+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/eye_chart.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/eye_chart.jpg\",\"width\":960,\"height\":350},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Vision Therapy\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Vision Therapy for Children\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"The Myth of 20\/20 Vision\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/\",\"name\":\"Optometrists.org\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Myth of 20\/20 Vision - Optometrists.org","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/the-myth-of-20-20\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Myth of 20\/20 Vision - Optometrists.org","og_description":"Have you been told that your child has 'perfect 20\/20 vision', but is still not reaching their potential at school? 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