I've heard this phrase a few times, but I don't really get the meaning. Does 'legally blind' have the same meaning with just 'blind'??
2007-07-01 03:44:12 · 10 answers · asked by Isabela 2 in Health ➔ Optical
Legally blind means when a person cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 vision. They still have some vision, just not good enough to drive, and it impairs the ability to carry out some activities of daily living. Another part of this is if a person does not have enough visual field to perform daily functions.
A variety of eye conditions can cause a person to be legally blind: Eye trauma, macular degeneration, optic nerve diseases, chronic retinal detachments, corneal problems such as Fuchs' dystrophy.
The general community uses the 20/200 best corrected vision level to help guide services to aid those who need visual assistance aids.
Generally, blindness refers to a total loss of vision, or 20/400 best corrected, where it impairs individuals to the point where they must have assistance/education to perform daily activities so they can function on their own.
2007-07-01 04:04:04 · answer #1 · answered by Jennifer 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My husband is legally blind and is 27 years old. Here is a definiation for you: "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. This means that a legally blind individual would have to stand 20 feet (6 m) from an object to see it with the same degree of clarity as a normally sighted person could from 200 feet (60 m). In many areas, people with average acuity who nonetheless have a visual field of less than 20 degrees (the norm being 180 degrees) are also classified as being legally blind. Approximately ten percent of those deemed legally blind, by any measure, have no vision. The rest have some vision, from light perception alone to relatively good acuity. Low vision is sometimes used to describe visual acuities from 20/70 to 20/200."
2016-04-01 01:59:50 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blind is a generic, vague, lay term that means someone doesn't see well. Some people may think that a blind person sees nothing at all, other people may think they just see poorly. Only a small percent of those who are blind see nothing at all.
"Legal Blindness" is a specific definition of level of vision impairment that is contained in a law or regulation. If you meet the definition of legal blindness, it often means that you qualify for certain benefits like subsidized vision aids, tax deductions or social services. The legal definition depends upon the particular law.
In many places the legal definition of blindness is vision that cannot be corrected with glasses to better than 20/200 in the better eye or field (peripheral vision) less than 10 degrees in the better eye.
2007-07-01 05:24:00 · answer #3 · answered by Judy B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"A person is considered LEGALLY blind when the best corrected visual acuity is 20/200, or the person's visual field is 20 degrees or less. It is not true that all blind persons have absolutely no sight; in fact, most blind persons have some remaining vision. A person may be considered blind when he/she can no longer drive safely, has difficulty reading a newspaper, or cannot see objects to the side."
2007-07-01 03:52:48 · answer #4 · answered by Miss Useless Knowledge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person is considered "legally blind", in the USA, when their visual acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or their field of vision is 20 degrees or less in the better eye.
2007-07-01 03:51:03 · answer #5 · answered by ηárdiη 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people confirmed as legally blind can still see to a certain degree.
2007-07-01 03:47:35 · answer #6 · answered by dghalterman 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My mother is legally blind due to macular degeneration but can see some things. She cannot see well enough to drive but she can read a paper if the print is magnified.
2007-07-01 03:52:44 · answer #7 · answered by Sophiesmama 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means the person has some vision, but it's so impaired that they are entitled to whatever protection and benefits those individuals with no sight get, like the right to use service animals where no animals are permitted, or a white cane.
2007-07-01 03:50:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Quick answer! Ya can't see crap without your glasses...lol.
visual acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or their field of vision is 20 degrees or less in the better eye
2007-07-01 03:50:44 · answer #9 · answered by ThisGuy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That you can't see well enough that the gov. or offical people have considered you all blind.
2007-07-01 04:59:36 · answer #10 · answered by Strikechic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋