Blindness can certainly qualify as a disability. There are many vision-related ailments that will qualify, and this is one of the most serious.
When many people think of being blind, they imagine that the individual cannot see anything at all. That may certainly be true in some cases, such as someone who is born with a birth defect that prevents them from ever experiencing sight. But in many cases, someone who qualifies as being legally blind and who should receive disability benefits will still be able to see to a certain degree. It does not mean that they are 100 percent blind, nor is that required for them to qualify for those benefits.
Legal blindness
From a legal perspective, there are a few ways that blindness is defined. First and foremost, someone may be legally blind if they have 20/200 vision. For most people, normal vision is supposed to be 20/20. Someone with 20/200 vision would need an object to be 10 times closer for them to see it.
Even though they can still see, you can imagine how limiting this is. A person with 20/200 vision would not be able to drive a vehicle, for instance, because they could not properly see street signs or road designs.
In other cases, legal blindness can be based on someone’s peripheral vision. If it is reduced under 20 degrees, they may count as being blind, even though they may still have forward vision. Losing their peripheral vision can make navigating the world much more difficult.
Seeking benefits
It is important to understand how physicians and legal professionals define certain conditions, such as blindness. Those who believe they may qualify for disability benefits need to know what legal steps to take to apply.