Does my visual impairment qualify as a disability?

There are many impairments that qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. Among these impairments are eye disabilities that severely impair vision. Although you do not have to be totally blind to qualify, your vision must be decreased to a point that meets the qualification listing supplied by the Social Security administration. Even if your eyesight is not sufficiently disabling, it may still qualify if it reduces your ability to function in a work setting.

Common Eye Disabilities

Some medical conditions that cause a reduction in vision include the following:

• Cataracts - the lens of the eye becomes cloudy
• Macular Degeneration - the middle of the retina becomes damaged generally caused by aging
• Melanoma - usually occurring in the choroid or iris
• Glaucoma - an open angled or closed angled pressure that builds up in the eye causing damage to the optic nerve or retina.
• Diabetic Retinopathy - the result of diabetes where it affects the eye's circulatory system.
• Paraneoplastic Retinopathy - where the rods in the eyes are affected to such a point that there is significant visual loss.
• Hypertensive Retinopathy - visual loss due to hypertension.
• Optic Neuropathy - when the optic nerve receives insufficient blood flow.
• Retinitis Pigmentosa - an inherited eye disease that affects both the cones and rods in the eye.

Social Security Disability Visual Impairments Listing

The SSA provides a listing for qualifying visual impairments:

• 2.02 Impairment of Visual Acuity.  When, after correction, the better eye is only 20/200 or less.
• 2.03 Contractions of Peripheral Visual Fields in Better Eye.  Measure of a person's peripheral vision. The A Peripheral Field Test is used to determine the level of impairment. Qualifications of impairment include contractions of the peripheral visual fields in the better eye:
  • From point of fixation up to 10 degrees or less; or
  • The widest diameter of an angle is no greater than 20 degrees when formed by viewing an object from a given external point; or
  • Up to 20 percent visual field efficiency or less
• 2.04 Loss of Visual Efficiency.  When, after correction, the visual efficiency in the better eye is 20 percent or less. This listing refers to the loss of both visual acuity and peripheral vision.
• 2.06 Total Bilateral Opthamoplegia.  Both eyes suffer a significant loss of muscle function.

Consult with an SSA attorney or professional to discuss visual impairments.