To mark 6/6 (6 June 2020), the College of Optometrists has issued advice for the general public to help them look after their eyes while some may be spending more time than ever looking at screens. 6/6 and 20/20 are lines on a sight test chart that many people refer to as a good level of vision. 20/20 vision is a term for visual acuity (the clarity of your eyesight) and 6/6 is the British version of this term.
In the current lockdown, with many people working and schooling from home, you may be feeling Teams tired or Zoomed out. Here three tips to help your eyes in virtual meetings:
Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom, Clinical Adviser at The College of Optometrists says; “We know that many people are concerned about their vision following what is a natural increase in screen time. Hopefully our tips will help with any headaches or vision strain, and it is important to remember that watching too much TV or being very close to a computer screen may make your eyes tired or give you a headache – particularly if you are watching TV in the dark – but won’t cause any permanent damage. At the moment, optometrists in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, have suspended routine eye examinations but are still offering urgent, emergency and essential eye care. If you are worried about your eyes or your vision, you can phone your optical practice.”
20/20 vision is a term for visual acuity (the clarity of your eyesight) in which the first number refers to distance and the second number refers to letter size. 6/6 is the British version of this term, and it’s written in metres, whereas 20/20 is the American notation in feet. Many people can see better than 6/6 or 20/20 and 6/6 is not the lowest line on the chart.
ENDS
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