Understanding Legal Blindness
Legally blind is a term used to describe individuals who have significant vision loss and meet certain criteria set by law. In the United States, the definition of legal blindness is having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction, or a visual field that is limited to 20 degrees or less. This means that even with the use of glasses, contact lenses, or other visual aids, a person is unable to see clearly at a distance of 20 feet what a person with normal vision would be able to see at that distance.
Causes of Legal Blindness
There are a variety of conditions that can lead to legal blindness, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. These conditions can cause damage to the retina, optic nerve, or lens of the eye, resulting in a loss of vision that cannot be corrected.
Impact of Legal Blindness
Being legally blind can have a significant impact on a person’s life, affecting their ability to perform daily tasks such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. It can also have emotional and social consequences, leading to feelings of isolation and dependency.
Case Studies
One example of the impact of legal blindness is the case of Sarah, a 45-year-old woman who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at a young age. Despite her visual impairment, Sarah has been able to lead a successful career as a social worker, using adaptive technology and support services to overcome the challenges she faces in her daily life.
Statistics
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, with 39 million of them being legally blind. In the United States, around 1 million people are considered legally blind, and this number is expected to increase as the population ages.
