What are the consequences if a patient with 20/30 vision does not wear corrective glasses?

From the Guidelines

A patient with 20/30 vision who does not wear corrective glasses will likely experience mild visual difficulties but no serious consequences. This vision measurement means they need to be at 20 feet to see what someone with normal vision can see at 30 feet. Without correction, they may experience eye strain, mild headaches, or difficulty with tasks requiring visual precision such as reading small print, driving at night, or viewing distant objects clearly. Daily activities will generally remain manageable, though they might need to move closer to see things or use brighter lighting. The decision to wear glasses for this level of vision impairment is often a matter of personal comfort rather than medical necessity, as stated in the refractive errors preferred practice pattern 1.

The underlying cause of the vision impairment (such as mild myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism) will continue unchanged whether glasses are worn or not, and vision will not deteriorate faster without correction 1. However, corrective lenses would provide clearer vision and potentially reduce eye strain and associated discomfort. It's also worth noting that uncorrected refractive errors do not result in amblyopia in patients beyond visual maturity, according to the refractive errors preferred practice pattern 1.

In terms of management, the need to correct refractive errors depends on the patient’s symptoms and visual needs, and correction options include eyeglasses, contact lenses, and surgery 1. For patients with mild refractive errors, daily activities will generally remain manageable without correction, but corrective lenses can still provide benefits in terms of clearer vision and reduced eye strain.

Some key points to consider include:

• The patient's symptoms and visual needs will guide the decision to correct refractive errors 1
• Uncorrected refractive errors do not result in amblyopia in patients beyond visual maturity 1
• Corrective lenses can provide clearer vision and potentially reduce eye strain and associated discomfort
• The decision to wear glasses for this level of vision impairment is often a matter of personal comfort rather than medical necessity 1

From the Research

Consequences of Not Wearing Corrective Glasses

• If a patient with 20/30 vision does not wear corrective glasses, they may experience persistent visual impairment, which can negatively impact their quality of life and daily activities 2.
• Uncorrected refractive errors can lead to visual impairment, with deleterious effects on quality of life and academic performance, especially in children 3.
• The lack of corrective eyeglasses can be due to various reasons, including cost, with 67% of patients citing it as the primary reason for not obtaining eyeglasses, despite having some form of health insurance 2.
• Not wearing corrective glasses can also lead to amblyopia, a condition characterized by a loss of visual acuity, usually in one eye, which can be treated with optical correction alone, resulting in clinically significant gains in visual acuity 4.

Impact on Daily Life and Academic Performance

• Uncorrected refractive errors and amblyopia can lead to significant visual impairment, affecting daily activities, such as reading, mobility, and distance vision 5.
• The provision of corrective eyeglasses can improve visual acuity, with a mean visual acuity improvement from 20/80 to 20/30 post-refraction, highlighting the importance of corrective measures 2.
• Low vision services and visual aids can also improve the quality of life in individuals with visual impairment, regardless of age, gender, and education level 5.

Treatment and Management

• Corrective glasses can be an effective treatment for refractive errors, with significant improvements in visual acuity observed in patients who receive optical correction alone 4.
• Contact lenses can also be used to correct refractive errors, especially in cases of myopic anisometropic amblyopia, with favorable outcomes compared to spectacle lenses 6.
• Early detection and treatment of refractive errors and amblyopia are crucial to prevent long-term visual impairment and improve quality of life 3.