This audio article is from VisualFieldTest.com.
Read the full article here: https://visualfieldtest.com/en/is-glaucoma-a-disability
Test your visual field online: https://visualfieldtest.com
Support the show so new episodes keep coming: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2563091/support
Excerpt:
Understanding Glaucoma and DisabilityGlaucoma is a progressive eye disease that damages the optic nerve and gradually erodes vision. Importantly, having a glaucoma diagnosis alone does not automatically make someone disabled – what matters is how much vision is lost. Disability systems around the world focus on measurable impairment. In practice, that means we look at a person’s best-corrected visual acuity (with glasses) and the extent of their visual field. For example, U.S. law defines “statutory blindness” as corrected vision of 20/200 or worse in the better eye (about 10% of normal) or a visual field 20° or less (). Only if glaucoma causes vision loss that meets those thresholds can a person be deemed legally blind under Social Security rules. In short, the answer to “Is glaucoma a disability?” is “it depends.” Early-stage glaucoma often leaves central vision intact, so a person may function normally and not qualify for disability. Very advanced glaucoma that produces “tunnel vision” or severe acuity loss typically meets legal blindness criteria in many systems (see below). And in between, millions of people fall into a gray area: they cannot see and function as before (especially driving or reading), yet do not meet strict disability thresholds. Their situation can be legally and emotionally challenging. Below we unpack how different countries and laws handle glaucoma-related vision loss, how glaucoma practically affects daily life and work, and what support is available. We also discuss the hidden burden of glaucoma (“invisible disability”) and how early treatment and evolving laws may change the picture in future.Legal Definitions: Glaucoma, Vision Loss, and Disability StatusDisability eligibility is almost always tied to functional vision tests rather than a medical label. Across countries, authorities specify vision thresholds (and sometimes field of vision limits) that determine disability benefits, driving privileges, tax breaks, etc. Glaucoma can cause visual acuity loss, peripheral field constriction, or both, so it is evaluated by these measures. A patient with mild field loss may drive safely and work normally, while a patient who is legally blind (e.g. ≤20/200 vision or <20° field in the better eye) faces major daily challenges and qualifies for full disability support. United States: Social Security vs. ADA Social Security Disability (SSA): The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits to those proven unable to work due to medical impairments. For vision, the “Blue Book” listing defines disability by two criteria: [2.02, Loss of Central Visual Acuity] and [2.03, Contraction of Visual Fields]. In practice SSA regards a person as statutorily blind if their best-corrected visual acuity is 20/200 or worse in the better eye, or their visual field is 20° or less (). (For reference, “20/200” means you must be 20 feet away to see what a person with normal vision can see at 200 feet.) Glaucoma patients reaching those thresholds can qualify for disability payments. If a person’s sight is better than these cutoffs, SSA may still evaluate their remaining work capacity, but tougher standards apply. Essentially, only severe vision loss qualifies for SSA benefits. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Federal anti‐discrimination law (the ADA) has a much b
