# Lasik eye surgery question. **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [March 19, 2007, 9:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/lasik-eye-surgery-question/26094 "2007-03-19T09:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 22
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 12:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/lasik-eye-surgery-question/26094/22 "2007-03-19T12:15:51Z")
> Normal vision is 20/20 in the nomenclature of Dutch ophthalmologist Herman Snellen. In 1862, he calibrated a set of descending-sized letters to the eyesight of his young assistant, who was presumed to have normal vision. From a distance of 20 feet, the smallest letters the young man could read were designated 20/20. There are a few people who can read letters half that size, or 20/10, from the same distance. [http://bluestream.wustl.edu/WhitakerArchives/00\_annual\_report/theeye.html](http://bluestream.wustl.edu/WhitakerArchives/00_annual_report/theeye.html) No need to “discuss” facts that can be looked up. 🙂 20/20 means that at 20 feet things are as clear as this standard’s “normal.” 20/400 would mean that at 20 feet things look as clear as 400 feet relative to the standard’s “normal” eyesight. So no, 20/10 does not mean that you are far sighted. It means that at 20 feet you see things as clearly as a “normal” person would see at 10 feet. You may also see clearly at close distances, or you may actually be farsighted. The rating does not specify. --- _[View the full topic](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/lasik-eye-surgery-question/26094)._