Your guide to understanding your eyesight
6/6 is normal vision. Here you understand yours.
Plain guides that explain eye test numbers and glasses prescriptions, and tell you when you need a full exam. Medically reviewed by Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy, cornea and refractive surgeon.
6/6 Vision Eye Center is being established in Cairo
In two lines
What does 6/6 mean?
6/6 means you read at 6 metres what a normal eye reads at 6 metres, the same as 20/20 in US notation. The bigger the second number (6/9, 6/12, 6/60), the weaker the vision.
Full explanation and conversion chart- 6/60E
- 6/36F P
- 6/24T O Z
- 6/18L P E D
- 6/12P E C F D
- 6/9E D F C Z P
- 6/6normalF E L O P Z D
Specialties
Plain guides organised by eye subspecialty, each one medically reviewed.
- Eye tests and numbers6/6, prescriptions and eye exams4 guides
- Children's eyes and squintLazy eye, squint and school checks2 guides
- Glaucoma and eye pressureEye pressure and glaucoma1 guide
- RetinaFloaters, diabetes and the retina2 guides
- Eyelids and around the eyeEyelid twitching and lids1 guide
- Everyday eye healthScreens and red eyes2 guides
- Cornea and vision correctionKeratoconus, LASIK and lensesGuides coming soon
Latest guides
- Everyday eye healthRed eye: when is it serious?Most red eyes are minor, such as a burst blood vessel, conjunctivitis or dry eye. Pain, reduced vision or light sensitivity need a same-day exam.Read the guide →
- Everyday eye healthDigital eye strain from screens and phones: symptoms and fixesScreen eye strain causes dryness, blur and headaches but does not damage adult eyes. The 20-20-20 rule, screen set-up, and the truth about blue-light glasses.Read the guide →
- Eyelids and around the eyeEyelid twitching: causes and when to worryEyelid twitching is usually a harmless flicker caused by stress, poor sleep or caffeine. It mostly settles on its own. Here is when it needs a doctor.Read the guide →
- RetinaDiabetes and your eyes: when should you have a retina check?Diabetic retinopathy can start while vision is normal. When retina checks should start for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, how often, and which symptoms need prompt review.Read the guide →
- RetinaEye floaters and flashes: when are they an emergency?Floaters are usually harmless, but a sudden shower of new floaters, flashes or a shadow over your vision can mean a retinal tear and needs a same-day exam.Read the guide →
- Glaucoma and eye pressureWhat is normal eye pressure?Normal eye pressure is roughly 10 to 21 mmHg. What a high reading means, why pressure alone cannot diagnose glaucoma, and when it is an emergency.Read the guide →
Medical review
Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy
Consultant cornea and refractive surgeon, Lecturer at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Cairo
- 20+
- years in eye surgery
- 5,000+
- operations
- First
- to perform S-DMEK in Egypt and the Arab region
- Devers
- joint fellowship and doctorate, Portland, USA
Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy's academic and professional affiliations
Want your eyes checked?
Until the center opens, Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy sees patients at his clinic in Dokki, Cairo. A full eye exam is the only way to find out why your vision is weak and how to treat it.