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What is 20/20 vision?
"20/20 vision" is commonly accepted as the standard of normal distance vision for a human being. Basically it means "good visual acuity at 20 feet." So if your vision is 20/20, you can read certain sizes of letters on a Snellen chart clearly at 20 feet or closer. But if your friend has 20/15 vision, his visual acuity is better than yours: you would have to stand 15 feet away from the chart to read the smaller letters that he can read while standing 20 feet away. Conversely, someone with 20/30 vision has worse distance vision than you.
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Accommodative Spasm
A spasm of accommodation (also known as “low accommodation,” or “accommodative spasm”) is a condition in which the ciliary muscle of the eye remains in a constant state of contraction. Normal accommodation allows the eye to ``accommodate`` for near-vision. For this reason, many people are assumed to have normal (20/20) vision, but actually have difficulty reading or focusing.
![eye exam](https://www.royacdn.com/unsafe/600x400/smart/Site-77691801-5034-4efc-8f11-cf20bab37e72/resources/emvc_69601.jpg)
Myopia, or Nearsightedness
Myopia occurs when an eye is too long for the corneal curvature. As a result, light rays entering the eye do not come to a sharp focus on the retina at the back of the eye. Instead, they focus further forward, producing a blurred image. People who are highly myopic have an increased risk of a retinal detachment resulting from the ``pulling`` on the retina.
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Hyperopia, or Farsightedness
Hyperopia occurs when an eye is too short for the corneal curvature. As a result, light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina instead of precisely on the retina, and a blurred image is produced. A person with hyperopia cannot see distant objects clearly.
![diagram](https://www.royacdn.com/unsafe/600x400/smart/Site-77691801-5034-4efc-8f11-cf20bab37e72/resources/understanding_astigmatism_basics_astigmatism.jpg)
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is the result of having a cornea that is irregular in shape. The cornea is normally round. An astigmatic cornea is oblong or ``football`` shaped, resulting in a condition that generally causes eyestrain, headaches
![eyeglasses on a keyboard](https://www.royacdn.com/unsafe/600x400/smart/Site-77691801-5034-4efc-8f11-cf20bab37e72/resources/DSC00349_1024x768.jpg)
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a condition in which the focusing ability of a person's eyes has decreased to the point where vision at his reading distance becomes blurred and difficult. You may begin to notice early signs of Presbyopia around the age of 40.