What is Vision Impairment? | Department of Ophthalmology (2024)

FAQs

What is Vision Impairment? | Department of Ophthalmology? ›

Vision impairment means that a person's eyesight cannot be corrected to a “normal” level. Vision impairment may be caused by a loss of visual acuity, where the eye does not see objects as clearly as usual.

Vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and its vision functions. Everyone, if they live long enough, will experience at least one eye condition in their lifetime that will require appropriate care. Vision impairment has serious consequences for the individual across the life course.

Impaired vision can range from poor vision to blindness. People whose vision cannot be corrected by ordinary glasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery have visual impairments. People with visual impairments have difficulty with routine tasks, such as reading a newspaper, even with glasses or contact lenses.

Legal definition

In North America and most of Europe, legal blindness is defined as visual acuity (vision) of 20/200 (6/60) or less in the better eye with best correction possible.

The World Health Organization defines “low vision” as visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/400, with the best possible correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. “Blindness” is defined as a visual acuity worse than 20/400, with the best possible correction, or a visual field of 10 degrees or less.

Is wearing glasses a disability? Wearing glasses is not considered a disability, regardless of the prescription strength.

A vision impairment constitutes a visual disability if it meets one of the three definitions of disability (“actual,” “record of,” or “regarded as”). Title I, the employment provision of the ADA, covers employment by private employers with 15 or more employees, as well as state and local government employers.

Mild – presenting visual acuity worse than 6/12. Moderate – presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18. Severe – presenting visual acuity worse than 6/60. Blindness – presenting visual acuity worse than 3/60.

Defines visual impairment as visual activity of 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye with correction, excluding blindness. Whereas, blindness is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better seeing eye with correction.

If you're legally blind, your vision is 20/200 or less in your better eye or your field of vision is less than 20 degrees. That means if an object is 200 feet away, you have to stand 20 feet from it in order to see it clearly. But a person with normal vision can stand 200 feet away and see that object perfectly.

Is it OK to say visual impairment? ›

AP style: Included in its “Disabled/Handicapped” entry, the stylebook describes blind as “a person with complete loss of sight” and suggests using the terms “visually impaired” or “person with low vision” for those who have some sight.

Low vision may involve a variety of different types of visual impairment; not just nearsightedness or farsightedness, but also peripheral vision loss, a blind spot or blurred vision.

Other, more serious conditions also happen as you age. Eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, can cause vision problems. Symptoms vary a lot among these disorders, so keep up with your eye exams. Some vision changes can be dangerous and need immediate medical care.

First: What does it mean to be "legally blind?" In most states, if you have distance visual acuity less than 20/200 that is not correctable with glasses/contact lenses, you are legally considered to be "severely visually handicapped" (which used to be called "legally blind").

What is the difference between visual impairment and blindness? The definition of visual impairment is “a decrease in the ability to see to a certain degree that causes problems not fixable by usual means, such as glasses.” Blindness is “the state of being unable to see due to injury, disease or genetic condition.”

Most blind people have some level of vision, but what they can see differs from person to person. Some may only see light. Others may see blurry shapes, figures, or colors. People with total blindness cannot see anything, but it is a misconception that they only see black or darkness.

not be able to see objects at a distance, like on a whiteboard or blackboard. having trouble reading (or learning to read) and participating in class. not be able to focus on objects or follow them, may squint often and rub their eyes a lot, have chronic eye redness or sensitivity to light.