6/6, 6/18, 6/36, 6/60 and 3/60 Vision: Meaning at a Glance
हिंदी में पढ़ें: 6/60, 6/18 विज़न का मतलब
Pages on this topic
- For doctors: RPwD 2016, WHO and US criteria for low vision and blindness
- This page: For patients: what 6/18 or 6/60 means and the glasses power
- For patients: low vision vs legal blindness in India
If you've seen a number like 6/60 or 3/60 written on your eye test results and wondered what it actually means, you're not alone — this is one of the most common questions patients ask after a vision test.
Got an eye test result like 6/18 or 6/60 and not sure what it means for you? Get it checked by Dr. Dhaval Patel, MD (AIIMS New Delhi), at Sadbhaav Eye & Dental Clinic, Motera, Ahmedabad. Open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm.
How to read the fraction
These numbers describe visual acuity — how clearly you can see — measured using a standard eye chart (a Snellen chart) at a set distance, usually 6 metres. The fraction works like this:
- The top number (6) is the distance, in metres, at which you're standing from the chart during the test.
- The bottom number is the distance at which a person with normal vision could read that same line clearly.
So 6/60 means: standing 6 metres away, you can only read letters that someone with normal vision could read from 60 metres away. The bigger the bottom number, the more your vision differs from normal at that testing distance.
What each value means: quick table
| Vision (metres) | US (feet) | What it means | India (RPwD 2016)* | WHO category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/6 | 20/20 | Normal vision | — | No impairment |
| 6/9 | 20/30 | Slightly below normal | — | No impairment |
| 6/12 | 20/40 | Mildly reduced. Often still enough for daily tasks. | — | No impairment |
| 6/18 | 20/60 | Noticeably reduced. Small print and distant signs are hard. | Low vision | Mild impairment |
| 6/24 | 20/80 | Moderately reduced | Low vision | Moderate impairment |
| 6/36 | 20/120 | Moderately to severely reduced | Low vision | Moderate impairment |
| 6/60 | 20/200 | Can read only the top letter of a standard chart. This is the US legal blindness cut-off. | Low vision | Moderate impairment |
| 3/60 | 20/400 | Can read the top letter only from 3 metres | Low vision (the lower limit) | Severe impairment |
| Worse than 3/60 (2/60, 1/60, finger counting) | Worse than 20/400 | Very poor vision, but not necessarily total blindness | Blindness | Blindness |
*India's categories apply to best-corrected vision (with glasses) in the better eye. A narrowed field of vision can also qualify: under 40° (down to 10°) counts as low vision, and under 10° as blindness. WHO categories use presenting vision in the better eye.
Important correction to an old belief: since the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, India's legal definition of blindness is best-corrected vision worse than 3/60 in the better eye (or a field of vision under 10°). Vision of 6/60, which used to count as blindness under the older 1995 law, is now classed as low vision. For the full legal detail, see our resident guide to visual impairment categories.
Does 6/60 or 6/18 tell you your glasses number?
Not exactly. Visual acuity tells you how clearly you see, not why. The same 6/60 can come from short sight, long sight, astigmatism, cataract or a retinal problem. For simple short sight (myopia), eye doctors use a rough rule of thumb:
| Unaided vision | Rough short-sight (minus) power, as a guide only |
|---|---|
| 6/9 | About −0.25 to −0.50 D |
| 6/12 | About −0.50 to −0.75 D |
| 6/18 | About −0.75 to −1.25 D |
| 6/24 | About −1.00 to −1.50 D |
| 6/36 | About −1.50 to −2.00 D |
| 6/60 | About −2.00 to −2.50 D or more |
These ranges vary with age, pupil size and astigmatism, and they do not apply to long sight (plus power), where young people can often still read 6/6. Your real power can only be measured by a proper refraction test.
6/60 vision का मतलब (हिंदी में)
6/60 का मतलब है कि आप 6 मीटर की दूरी से वही अक्षर पढ़ पाते हैं जिन्हें सामान्य दृष्टि वाला व्यक्ति 60 मीटर से पढ़ सकता है। 6/18 का मतलब है कि आप 6 मीटर से वह पढ़ते हैं जो सामान्य व्यक्ति 18 मीटर से पढ़ लेता है। यह चश्मे का नंबर नहीं है। नंबर जानने के लिए आँखों की पूरी जाँच (रिफ्रैक्शन) ज़रूरी है।
Does this mean I'm losing my vision permanently?
Not necessarily — and this is important to understand. This number typically describes your uncorrected or best-corrected vision at the moment of testing, not necessarily a permanent condition. Many causes of reduced acuity, like refractive error (needing glasses), early cataracts, or a treatable eye condition, can improve significantly with the right correction or treatment. The number on its own doesn't tell you the cause — that's exactly what a proper eye examination is for.
What to do next
If your test showed a number like 6/60 or lower, the right next step is a full eye examination to find out why — not to assume the worst. Dr. Dhaval Patel will identify the actual cause and explain honestly whether it's correctable with glasses, treatable, or something that needs closer monitoring.
If you'd like to understand how visual acuity numbers relate to formal visual impairment categories and disability classification in India, read our guide on low vision and legal blindness. Doctors and students can find the detailed criteria (RPwD 2016, WHO and US) in our visual impairment categories guide.
Got an eye test result you don't understand? Book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp and we'll explain it clearly.
Need an eye check-up in Ahmedabad? Dr. Dhaval Patel, MD (AIIMS New Delhi), has performed more than 25,000 cataract surgeries and sees patients at Sadbhaav Eye & Dental Clinic, Motera, close to Chandkheda, Sabarmati, Visat and Koteshwar. See cataract surgery cost or book a consultation.