What is Legally Blind: Definition, Prescription and More

Understanding Legal Blindness

Legally blind” refers to the particular legal limit of visual loss used for a variety of practical purposes-for example, eligibility for certain benefits, insurance, programs, and compensation. Like blindness, legally blind is defined by visual acuity but does not signify any amount of visual impairment outside of the specified legal definition.

For one to be legally blind, the visual acuity level has to be 20/200 or worse in the better eye even with corrected good eyewear. That is to say, on strong prescription glasses or contact lenses, their view is still fairly defective. Yet, legal blindness does not refer to total darkness but can be capable of perceiving light, colors, or having partial vision. This goes a long way toward defining all of the different experiences of vision loss and the functional challenges that a legally blind person might face.

What is Legally Blind?

The Social Security Administration has defined legal blindness in either one or both of the following ways:

• Visual Acuity: In the better eye, less than 20/200 in the individual’s better eye after best correction. In simple terms, if a person with legal blindness can see what a normal individual would see at 200 feet, he would be able to see what a normal person sees at 20 feet.
• Visual Field: A visual field of 20 degrees or less. This means that peripheral vision is severely limited; it is hard to perceive anything outside a narrow central area and even harder to detect objects or people there.

What is Considered as Legally Blind

The sharpness with which an individual can view details at a certain distance is known as visual acuity. Normally, it is evaluated using a Snellen chart, which lists letters of different sizes. The visual acuity ratio indicates how many feet away a person can be and yet read a given line of letters that an individual with normal vision can also read at the same distance. For example, 20/20 vision means seeing at a distance of 20 feet what a person with normal vision can also see at the same distance.

This is a definition that will be used in determining eligibility for services and benefits through the Social Security Administration, as well as through others; disability services and certain assistive technologies.

What does 20/200 Vision Mean?

For a person having 20/200 vision, a person with normal vision will see at 200 feet what such a person would see at 20 feet. Such a condition is legally blind. The extreme blurry of the eyes, inability to identify faces, and the inability to read standard print have been the problems of legally-blind people. They often rely on magnifying devices or large print for their daily activities.

Visual Field and Its Implication

Visual field This refers to the extent of the area that a person can see at one particular time when looking straight. Commonly, a normal visual field measures about 180 degrees. For legally blind, the visual field has a span of 20 degrees or less. This narrow visual field means that maybe they will find it difficult to distinguish objects or people in their periphery and may find it even very hard to move in a new or crowded field.

In Brief

Legal blindness is a serious impairment of the ability to perform daily tasks and cannot be fully corrected by any form of standard aid except legal blindness. People with this condition, whether it pertains to poor visual acuity or a considerably restricted visual field, typically require special accommodations and support to properly run their lives on a daily basis.

What Prescription is Legally Blind?

Understanding Legal Blindness and Visual Aids

To answer the question yes, a person can be legally blind even if he or she wears glasses or contact lenses. Legal blindness is described in precise visual standards: a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with the best possible correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. This way, no matter what corrective lens is used, the individual’s vision remains greatly impaired.

Legally Blind Prescription

No, there is no number of a prescription that defines legally blind. It is based on the level of visual impairment:

• Visual Acuity: 20/200 or worse in the better eye, even with correction
• Visual Field: 20 degrees or less.

Thus, people with the visual parameters are considered legally blind, no matter what corrective lenses they will wear.

Is 5.5 Eyesight Legally Blind?

In the U.S., legal blindness is defined as a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with correcting lenses, or the visual field of 20 degrees or less. A measurement of 5.5 in metric translates to approximately 20/400, which is legally blind.

OR

Legally blind is defined as 5.5, equivalent to 20/400. However, classification legally blind also depends upon visual fields. A person with 20/400 vision may not be considered legally blind if his or her field of view lies within the normal limit.

Legal Blindness No Spectacles

A severe visual loss that cannot be corrected, even by using the most advanced visual aids, is legal blindness without eyeglasses. The definition of legal blindness involves a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse and a visual field of 20 degrees or less, regardless of whether glasses or contacts are worn.

Everyday Living and Civil Rights

Legal Rights

Legally blind individuals have various rights and protections under U.S. law. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with disabilities, including legally blind, from discrimination. Such laws mandate public entities, employers, and businesses to make “reasonable accommodations” in order to ensure equality of access and opportunities for visually impaired people.

Disability Rights

Legal blindness is perceived as a disability. Therefore, in a legal context, people suffering from it have unique rights. Such rights include education, access to work, and other public amenities. It is essential for a legally blind person to understand their rights as well as use their power to push authority to do the most to accommodate and help them in accessing such aspects as education and employment.

Life with Legal Blindness:

Living with legal-blindness creates numerous challenges. What were once simple every day activities, like reading and writing, or even walking around, can be challenging and impossible without assistive devices. Many rely on resources like magnifiers, screen readers, and Braille materials in performing various daily activities.

Legally-blind, however, goes beyond the challenge of physical limitation. The difficulty experienced for the mental and emotional parts of an individual makes it crucial to acknowledge and take support and resources to help in an individual’s challenges to maintain a quality life.

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Disclaimer

This article is only for informational purposes and is an educational article. It should not be construed as medical advice or legal counsel. People should always seek a competent health care professional’s diagnosis, treatment, and advice about eye or vision health issues. Every circumstance will be unique, and a doctor can provide individually tailored recommendations based on specific needs.

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