What vision problems qualify for disability?

Asked by: Vivien Batz  |  Last update: August 31, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (16 votes)

Loss of Central Visual Activity
The easiest way to qualify for disability benefits is to prove your vision is 20/200, or legally blind. This exam must be performed after “best correction” attempts, which includes the use of glasses, contacts, or surgical procedures.

What level of vision is considered a disability?

The most straightforward way to qualify for disability is to prove that your vision is legally blind, or 20/200 or worse. This will automatically qualify for disability benefits. If you're not legally blind, there are still other ways to qualify, but you'll need to take some standard tests first.

What percent of vision loss qualifies for disability?

Again, there are two ways to qualify under this listing: You have a visual efficiency percentage of 20 or less after best correction (lenses, contacts, surgery) You have a visual impairment value of 1.00 or greater after best correction.

At what point is bad vision a disability?

Certain impairments, such as blindness, automatically qualify an individual for Social Security benefits. To qualify for Social Security benefits vision loss must be significant. If an applicant's vision in both eyes is 20/200 or worse, they will qualify for disability under listing 2.02.

What are the criteria for eye disability?

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

Vision Problems and Social Security Disability Claims

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What eye prescription is disabled?

If your prescription is -2.5 or lower, you are legally blind, as visual acuity of -2.5 is equivalent to 20/200 vision. Another thing to consider when having 20/200 or less visual acuity is whether or not it can be improved with contact lenses or glasses.

Are eye floaters a disability?

Can I get VA Disability for eye floaters? Yes, the VA gives veterans a rating for eye conditions like floaters, chronic pink eye, and other problems caused by their service. Some even get ratings even though they can receive some types of treatment.

Does low vision count as a disability?

Low vision can result from a medical condition or it may be attributed to the aging process. In either case, it can make it difficult to work or perform certain tasks at your job. In these situations, you may be entitled to social security disability benefits (SSDI).

Does astigmatism count as a disability?

Astigmatism is a common visual impairment for which many veterans may not realize they could collect disability compensation.

Does needing glasses count as a visual disability?

Wearing glasses is not considered a disability, regardless of the prescription strength. In fact, visual impairment is legally determined by "best corrected vision." This is a person's best visual acuity while wearing corrective lenses.

Does cataracts qualify for disability?

Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Cataracts

To see if you may qualify, you can consult the Social Security Blue Book, which lists all SSA-approved disabilities. Cataracts has the potential to qualify under Section 2.00: “Special Senses and Speech” under a variety of vision-based listings.

How much vision loss is legally blind?

Visual acuity less than 20/200 is considered legally blind, but to actually fit the definition, the person must not be able to attain 20/200 vision even with prescription eyewear.

What are two conditions of people with astigmatism?

You have corneal astigmatism if your cornea has mismatched curves. You have lenticular astigmatism if your lens has mismatched curves. Either type of astigmatism can cause blurred vision. Blurred vision may occur more in one direction: horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

What prescription is considered astigmatism?

Astigmatism is measured in diopters. A perfect eye with no astigmatism has 0 diopters. Most people have between 0.5 to 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. People with a measurement of 1.5 or more typically need contacts or eyeglasses to have clear vision.

What is legally blind vision?

In order to be legally blind, you must have a visual acuity of 20/200. This means that even with glasses or contacts, you can only read the first letter at the top of the Snellen Chart, if that. You can also be legally blind if you can see, but only in a very small window in your eye.

Is optic neuropathy a disability?

Later, if you develop optic neuropathy due to your diabetes and a doctor can establish your optic neuropathy is a result of your service-connected diabetes, you may be entitled to disability benefits for your optic neuropathy.

What disease is associated with eye floaters?

Sometimes floaters have more serious causes, including:
  • Eye infections.
  • Eye injuries.
  • Uveitis (inflammation in the eye)
  • Bleeding in the eye.
  • Vitreous detachment (when the vitreous pulls away from the retina)
  • Retinal tear (when vitreous detachment tears a hole in the retina)

Can you drive with eye floaters?

It might take some time for you to adjust to the new floaters and flashes of light in your vision. If you have an eye examination, you may be given eye drops to dilate your pupils. You shouldn't drive until your eyes are back to normal, please check with your optometrist how long this will take.

What autoimmune disease has eye floaters?

Common symptoms of uveitis are blurred vision, photophobia, eye pain, floaters (floating spots), headache and injected conjunctiva. Usually in children can be asymptomatic.

What are things people with astigmatism see?

Blurred vision is the most common astigmatism symptom. It also makes it hard to see details on objects, like the words printed on a menu in front of you, or letters on a road sign in the distance. Other astigmatism symptoms include: Seeing a glare or halos around lights.

What does it look like for people who have astigmatism?

The most common symptom of astigmatism is blurred or distorted vision at all distances and night glare, making even everyday activities like driving, reading, or playing sports difficult.

What are the three types of astigmatism?

The difference in the focusing powers results in two different focal points on the retina and the blurry vision associated with astigmatism.
  • Myopic Astigmatism. ...
  • Hyperopic Astigmatism. ...
  • Mixed Astigmatism.

What are the 4 most common eye problems?

The leading causes of blindness and low vision in the United States are primarily age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Other common eye disorders include amblyopia and strabismus.

Can you get more Social Security if you are blind?

If your earnings are lower because of your blindness, we can exclude those years when we calculate your Social Security retirement or disability benefit in the future. Because Social Security benefits are based on your average lifetime earnings, your benefit will be higher if we don't count those years.

What is 20 70 vision look like?

Moderate Vision Loss

20/70 means you have to stand at 20 feet to see clearly what people with 20/20 vision can see at 70 feet. 20/130 is more severe and means you have to stand at 20 feet to see what you should be able to see at 130 feet.