Visual Disability


Definition

Blindness refers to a condition where a persons suffers from any of the condition, namely,

  1. total absence of sight; or
  2. visual acuity not exceeding 6/60 or 20/200 (Snellen) in the better eye with best correcting lenses; or
  3. limitation of field of vision subtending an angle of 20 degree or worse;

Low Vision

Persons with low vision means a person a with impairment of vision of less than 6/18 to 6/60 with best correction in the better eye or impairment of field in any one of the following categories:

  1. reduction of fields less than 50 degrees
  2. Heminaopia with macular involvement
  3. Altitudinal defect involving lower fields.

Categories of Visual Disability

Categories with visual correction
Category Better eye Worse eye %age impairment
Category 0 6/9-6/18 6/24 to 6/36 20%
Category I 6/18-6/36 6/20 to Nil 40%
Category II 6/40-4/60 or field of vision 10o-20o 3/60 to Nil 75%
Category III 3/60 to 1/60 or field of vision 10o F.C. at 1 ft. to Nil 100%
Category IV F.C. at 1 ft. to Nil or field of vision 10o F.C. at ft. to Nil 100%
One eyed persons F.C. at 1 ft. to Nil or field of vision 10o 6/6 30%

Note F.C. means Finger Count.

Process of Certification

A disability certificate shall be issued by a Medical Board duly constituted by the Central/State Government having, at least three members. Out of which, at least one member shall be a specialist in ophthalmology. Click to view the Certificate.