# Please explain eye ratings

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-eye-ratings/220353>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 21, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-eye-ratings/220353 "2003-12-21T19:17:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kurdt\_Kobain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/258eb7/32.png) [@Kurdt\_Kobain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kurdt_Kobain)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-eye-ratings/220353/1 "2003-12-21T19:17:59Z")

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I’ve seen some described as 15/20, 100/20, etc.

What exactly do the ratings mean?

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-eye-ratings/220353/2 "2003-12-21T19:46:22Z")

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I feel overwhelmed by kindness;

> **[What does it mean when someone has 20/20 vision?](https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/eye/question126.htm)**
>
> We all know 20/20 vision is a good thing, but just what do those numbers mean?

Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-eye-ratings/220353/3 "2003-12-21T21:15:28Z")

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At 20/20 your vision is normal and you see at 20ft what others see at 20ft.

20/40----you see at 20ft what others see at 40ft---------your vision is at half-normal.

20/60 -----now you’re in real trouble!

20/100--------legally blind.

40/20------the opposite of 20/40------you’re a hawk -------etc.

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**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-eye-ratings/220353/4 "2003-12-21T22:15:07Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> 20/40----you see at 20ft what others see at 40ft

Warning! Objects in mirror are closer than they appear!