Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Legally Blind / Registered Blind / Severely Sight Impaired (self.Blind)
submitted by -Oculis-
Legally Blind / Registered Blind / Severely Sight Impaired
In the UK all 3 mean the same thing, but which one do you use most to describe yourself or someone who is not totally blind, but worse than Partially Sighted?
In the UK all 3 mean the same thing, but which one do you use most to describe yourself or someone who is not totally blind, but worse than Partially Sighted?
blindnessandbees 2 points 3y ago
I normally say blind, or legally blind. I don't like it when I say I'm visually impaired and people asusme I'm mostly sighted and I don't need any help
-Oculis- [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Exactly, this is my line of thinking. I am legally blind with some sight and I never know how to answer when people ask. If I say I’m blind then I always have to follow up with “... but I do have some sight” because, as we know, people assume blind = yes or no, black or white etc. I also don’t like the term “Severely Sight Impaired”. Legally blind seems to be the better choice for me but I feel like it will forever be followed with a joke about “Legally Blonde”
But on the other hand I’ve had people refer to me as “visually impaired” or “low vision” or “poor eyesight” and it makes my sight sound better than it is and as you say people assume I don’t need any help.
Not sure how it works for you but where I am you are listed on a blind register. There is “Partially Sighted” and “Blind / Severely Sight Impaired” I am on the blind one.
But on the other hand I’ve had people refer to me as “visually impaired” or “low vision” or “poor eyesight” and it makes my sight sound better than it is and as you say people assume I don’t need any help.
Not sure how it works for you but where I am you are listed on a blind register. There is “Partially Sighted” and “Blind / Severely Sight Impaired” I am on the blind one.
blindnessandbees 1 points 3y ago
I live in the Netherlands, and the term legally blind is not very popular here, I do use it however. It is the proper medical and legal term so I want to use it. I will also be making legally blonde joke til the day I die
bitstrip 1 points 3y ago
I am legally blind because my field of vision is so small so I've found that just saying I'm "75% blind" is the easiest for people to understand. My least favorite question is "if you're blind, how can you see?" My vision loss is permanent and I feel like other people are more upset about that than I am.
-Oculis- [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Interesting. Now I’m thinking how to put a percentage on my sight lol
bitstrip 1 points 3y ago
For reference to how I got to 75% blind: I have no vision in my right eye (optic nerve was crushed) and I have no peripheral vision in my left eye as a result of a stroke (one doctor says its just neglect another says its a true field cut, either way my brain cannot "talk" to that eye and the vision isn't there). The vision I do have is corrected by glasses to like 20/90 so people tend to dismiss my vision deficit until I explain that much of my vision is gone because I appear to "see just fine".
K-R-Rose 1 points 3y ago
I use legally blind, because there is no other way for people to understand
Even still, people don’t know what that term means, so I’m sort of fighting a pointless battle....
Even still, people don’t know what that term means, so I’m sort of fighting a pointless battle....
RIAtheGeek 1 points 3y ago
Not exactly the USA but my neurologist and optometrist who did my visual field testing both used the classifications set up by the international council of ophthalmology.www.icoph.org › downloadsPDF
visual standards - International Council of Ophthalmology
visual standards - International Council of Ophthalmology
DrillInstructorJan 1 points 3y ago
I tend to tell people I'd have to have some sight for it to be impaired!
But seriously, the issue here is trying to find a simple term for something that is really complex. Various people have sight that is impaired in various ways and there as many kinds of visual impairment as there are people who have it. I have basically no light perception but if you really wanted to get into it, I think I can see a tiny purple glow that reacts to light. On the other hand, I am mentoring someone right now who has gone from normal sight to what she describes as a grey blob in less than a year. She definitely has light perception and so is is less blind than me, but more blind than a lot of people.
Really though I don't care what term anyone uses, the big issue for me is that I'd rather people relate to me than the disability. I don't want to be "the blind one," whatever term you replace blind with.
But seriously, the issue here is trying to find a simple term for something that is really complex. Various people have sight that is impaired in various ways and there as many kinds of visual impairment as there are people who have it. I have basically no light perception but if you really wanted to get into it, I think I can see a tiny purple glow that reacts to light. On the other hand, I am mentoring someone right now who has gone from normal sight to what she describes as a grey blob in less than a year. She definitely has light perception and so is is less blind than me, but more blind than a lot of people.
Really though I don't care what term anyone uses, the big issue for me is that I'd rather people relate to me than the disability. I don't want to be "the blind one," whatever term you replace blind with.
KillerLag 1 points 3y ago
In Canada, we have the term low vision for someone who isn't legally blind yet.
-Oculis- [OP] 1 points 3y ago
We have “Partially Sighted” in the UK but I am Legally blind
RIAtheGeek 1 points 3y ago
I'm in the USA and have a redused visual field. The official term is profound visual impairment which I perfer. I have enough vision remaining that I'm not legally blind by our standards and have decent vision in the remaining field but no light perception in the missing visual field. I dont like useing the term low vision because most associate that with visual acuity.
-Oculis- [OP] 1 points 3y ago
So does the USA have 2 “levels” ?
* Profound Visual Impairment
* Legally blind
In the UK it’s
* Partially Sighted
* Blind / Severely Sight Impaired
* Profound Visual Impairment
* Legally blind
In the UK it’s
* Partially Sighted
* Blind / Severely Sight Impaired
razzretina 1 points 3y ago
No, it’s just legally blind or not here. Legal blindness here is a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse with correction and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees.
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