This is a very dumb question, I know. But I don’t know where else to ask it.
I don’t know the numbers of my prescription because my mom handled it all (I’m 15 and she insisted, that’s why) but i can describe what that eye chart was like.
My right eye wasn’t that bad, the bottom two were blurry but otherwise no issues.
My left eye, oh boy. I couldn’t see any of them, not even the top line, it was so incredibly blurry.
Am I considered to be visually impaired because of this?
My friend says that I am (and even that it counts as a disability) due to my left eye being so bad, but I don’t think of myself that way.
My doctor never mentioned anything like that to me either. But then again, I never thought to ask, or I may have missed it?
I’m curious to know who’s right in this situation.
Theskootch265 points1y ago
I reckom so because visually impaired is a blanket term used to describe anyone who struggles to see, ranging from mild sight issues in one eye to being completely blind.
The main distinction is how extreme is it, for example I am considered severely sight impaired/blind but a family member has low vision yet we are bot sight impakred.
As far as I know is also depends on the courltry you're in, your best bet is to ask your doctor, optition or ophthalmologist
AlexandrinaIsHere3 points1y ago
Hey, I'm mostly in this sub because I need to schedule an eye surgery and this is a way to keep track of resources on what's up to date on operating phone/entertainment options when aftercare will mean not looking at things (surgery situation postponed with current events.)
I have somewhat decent eyesight in one eye, not as good as what you said for your good eye though. But perfectly able to be corrected to 20/20 with glasses. My bad eye is ridiculously inaccurate and hard to even perceive that the eye chart exists. Cannot be fully corrected with glasses. I don't match the definition of disabled that the government uses, as my vision using both eyes can be corrected to better than 20/200. BUT when I lived in Kentucky there was a restriction on my driver's permit that I couldn't drive without all three mirrors (2 side and center) intact because the eye test at the DMV called me blind on my right side.
As far as visual impairment, that depends on if you're going for social definition or legal definition. Legally, I have the above mentioned question of ability to drive without mirrors due to impairment on one side. I don't match any other legal definition. Social definitions, though- I can easily see anything I need to react to, and I can read any font size anyone calls comfortable to read. But I cannot do sports because my eyes don't track things at a distance moving quickly. Don't throw anything at me, I can dodge but I cannot catch. So I meet some social definitions as I cannot deal with sports.
It's all a wash. Labels about disability and impairment can be useful if you match a legal definition and looking to qualify for assistance/accomodations at the workplace. Past that it's useful to freely admit "I can't do that" when someone suggests doing something you just aren't equipped for. I refuse to go to certain kinds of amusement parks because I'm afraid of busting my glasses and find roller coasters disturbing with my glasses off- can't see turns coming so I can't brace against the turn, meaning I get back aches.
JosephSeabourne2 points1y ago
Well, you aren't considered legally blind. For that, you have to not be able to read the biggest line on the eye chart with neither of your eyes using your best possible correction (i.e. any glasses, contacts, etc). A visual Impairment is just any kind of vision issue in either eye. So, yes, you are visually impaired. That's how it works in the UK anyway. Hope that helps.
impablomations1 points1y ago
>Legally to count as a disability (i.e. you can claim benefits, can't drive, etc) you have to be considered legally blind.
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