Empathy List Archives

DF

D'Andrea Frances Mary

Tue, Feb 27, 2018 5:35 PM

Hi everyone,
I have an odd question.
I heard a optometrist state that the Social Security Administration changed the definition of “legal blindness” to 20/100 in the better eye with correction. Is this correct?
I can’t find anything on the SSA web site that says that. In fact, all I can see is the same old definition:
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0426001001!opendocument https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0426001001!opendocument
and
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434001012#a2 https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434001012#a2

Did I misunderstand this person or has the definition changed in some way and I just missed it?
Thanks.
—FM

Hi everyone, I have an odd question. I heard a optometrist state that the Social Security Administration changed the definition of “legal blindness” to 20/100 in the better eye with correction. Is this correct? I can’t find anything on the SSA web site that says that. In fact, all I can see is the same old definition: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0426001001!opendocument <https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0426001001!opendocument> and https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434001012#a2 <https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434001012#a2> Did I misunderstand this person or has the definition changed in some way and I just missed it? Thanks. —FM

JB

Janie Blome

Tue, Feb 27, 2018 6:28 PM

Hey, FM –

I think the confusion comes from the charts that are used to determine acuity, if it’s something other than a Snellen chart. Here’s what the Social Security website says:

b. Other test charts. Most test charts that use Snellen methodology do not have lines that measure visual acuity between 20/100 and 20/200. Some test charts, such as the Bailey-Lovie or the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS), used mostly in research settings, have such lines. If your visual acuity is measured with one of these charts, and you cannot read any of the letters on the 20/100 line, we will determine that you have statutory blindness based on a visual acuity of 20/200 or less. For example, if your best-corrected central visual acuity for distance in the better eye is 20/160 using an ETDRS chart, we will find that you have statutory blindness. Regardless of the type of test chart used, you do not have statutory blindness if you can read at least one letter on the 20/100 line. For example, if your best-corrected central visual acuity for distance in the better eye is 20/125+1 using an ETDRS chart, we will find that you do not have statutory blindness because you are able to read one letter on the 20/100 line.

And, just in case you are wondering, this is the determination made by the US Department of Education regarding acuities for eligibility for Federal Quota:

We have been instructed by the US Department of Education that eligibility for Federal Quota registration is to follow the definition of blindness as an acuity 20/200 or less with the best correction. Measurements of acuity are to be based on the Snellen chart.

Janie

From: AERNet [mailto:aernet-bounces@lists.aerbvi.org] On Behalf Of D'Andrea Frances Mary
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 12:36 PM
To: AERNET aernet@lists.aerbvi.org
Subject: [AERNet] did I miss something?

Hi everyone,
I have an odd question.
I heard a optometrist state that the Social Security Administration changed the definition of “legal blindness” to 20/100 in the better eye with correction. Is this correct?
I can’t find anything on the SSA web site that says that. In fact, all I can see is the same old definition:
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0426001001!opendocument
and
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434001012#a2

Did I misunderstand this person or has the definition changed in some way and I just missed it?
Thanks.
—FM

Hey, FM – I think the confusion comes from the charts that are used to determine acuity, if it’s something other than a Snellen chart. Here’s what the Social Security website says: b. Other test charts. Most test charts that use Snellen methodology do not have lines that measure visual acuity between 20/100 and 20/200. Some test charts, such as the Bailey-Lovie or the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS), used mostly in research settings, have such lines. If your visual acuity is measured with one of these charts, and you cannot read any of the letters on the 20/100 line, we will determine that you have statutory blindness based on a visual acuity of 20/200 or less. For example, if your best-corrected central visual acuity for distance in the better eye is 20/160 using an ETDRS chart, we will find that you have statutory blindness. Regardless of the type of test chart used, you do not have statutory blindness if you can read at least one letter on the 20/100 line. For example, if your best-corrected central visual acuity for distance in the better eye is 20/125+1 using an ETDRS chart, we will find that you do not have statutory blindness because you are able to read one letter on the 20/100 line. And, just in case you are wondering, this is the determination made by the US Department of Education regarding acuities for eligibility for Federal Quota: We have been instructed by the US Department of Education that eligibility for Federal Quota registration is to follow the definition of blindness as an acuity 20/200 or less with the best correction. Measurements of acuity are to be based on the Snellen chart. Janie From: AERNet [mailto:aernet-bounces@lists.aerbvi.org] On Behalf Of D'Andrea Frances Mary Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 12:36 PM To: AERNET <aernet@lists.aerbvi.org> Subject: [AERNet] did I miss something? Hi everyone, I have an odd question. I heard a optometrist state that the Social Security Administration changed the definition of “legal blindness” to 20/100 in the better eye with correction. Is this correct? I can’t find anything on the SSA web site that says that. In fact, all I can see is the same old definition: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0426001001!opendocument and https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434001012#a2 Did I misunderstand this person or has the definition changed in some way and I just missed it? Thanks. —FM

BH

Brucie Hawkins

Tue, Feb 27, 2018 6:48 PM

I think it was an interpretation of the definition. When legal blindness was defined, the charts used at that time went from 20/100 to 20/200 with no intervening scoring. By one interpretation, anything worse than 20/100 would have been scored as 20/200.

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 27, 2018, at 11:35 AM, D'Andrea Frances Mary literacy2@mindspring.com wrote:

Hi everyone,
I have an odd question.
I heard a optometrist state that the Social Security Administration changed the definition of “legal blindness” to 20/100 in the better eye with correction. Is this correct?
I can’t find anything on the SSA web site that says that. In fact, all I can see is the same old definition:
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0426001001!opendocument
and
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434001012#a2

Did I misunderstand this person or has the definition changed in some way and I just missed it?
Thanks.
—FM
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I think it was an interpretation of the definition. When legal blindness was defined, the charts used at that time went from 20/100 to 20/200 with no intervening scoring. By one interpretation, anything worse than 20/100 would have been scored as 20/200. Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 27, 2018, at 11:35 AM, D'Andrea Frances Mary <literacy2@mindspring.com> wrote: > > Hi everyone, > I have an odd question. > I heard a optometrist state that the Social Security Administration changed the definition of “legal blindness” to 20/100 in the better eye with correction. Is this correct? > I can’t find anything on the SSA web site that says that. In fact, all I can see is the same old definition: > https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0426001001!opendocument > and > https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0434001012#a2 > > Did I misunderstand this person or has the definition changed in some way and I just missed it? > Thanks. > —FM > You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv. > > To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.org. > > Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the list archives. > _______________________________________________ > AERNet mailing list > AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org > http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org