A visual acuity of 20/400 means that a person can see an object at 20 feet away, which a person with normal vision could see at 400 feet away. In other words, someone with 20/400 eyesight has poor vision and can only see things clearly when they are very close.
To better understand what 20/400 eyesight looks like, it can be helpful to compare it to other levels of visual acuity. For example, a person with 20/20 vision can see an object at 20 feet away, which a person with 20/400 vision would need to be just one foot away from to see it clearly. This means that someone with 20/400 vision has a much narrower range of clear vision than someone with normal vision.
At 20/400, details in objects become increasingly difficult to discern. A person with 20/400 vision would have trouble reading large print and would likely require the use of magnifying devices such as reading glasses or magnifying lenses to read or see anything beyond a very close distance.
In addition to difficulty with reading, people with 20/400 vision may also struggle with recognizing faces, navigating unfamiliar places, and participating in activities that require good eyesight, such as driving or playing sports.
It’s important to note that visual acuity is just one aspect of vision, and a person’s overall visual function can be affected by other factors such as color vision, contrast sensitivity, and peripheral vision. Therefore, someone with 20/400 vision may have other vision impairments that further impact their visual function.
In summary, 20/400 eyesight is a severe form of vision impairment where a person can only see objects clearly when they are very close. This level of visual acuity can greatly impact a person’s ability to carry out daily activities that require good eyesight, and may require the use of assistive devices to help them see more clearly.