Summary
- Wearing glasses alone is not considered a disability under ADA.
- Vision of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with correction may qualify as statutory blindness under SSA.
- Disability benefits depend on SSA rules, work history, and income/resources.
- Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for visually impaired workers.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person is considered to have a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, have a record of such an impairment, or are regarded as having such an impairment.
As per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people who are wearing glasses are not regarded as disabled with impaired vision. There are specific eligibility requirements that determine who qualifies as having a disability due to vision impairment.
Suppose, an eye doctor informs an individual that their vision is 20/800 without using glasses. As per the Social Security Administration (SSA), they are not concerned with anyone’s vision without spectacles. If you want to apply for the disability for wearing glasses then you must satisfy the criteria of very low vision.
In case an individual is having the eyesight of 20/800 in both of the eyes while wearing glasses then it will be considered a disability. However, there must be a prescription by a healthcare professional that defines your low vision.
Vision of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with best correction is considered statutory blindness under SSA rules. Here the best correction means vision measured while wearing properly prescribed glasses or contact lenses that improve eyesight as much as medically possible. Also, the visual field in the better eye is 20 degrees or less.
You can apply for Blind Disability Benefits in this case. Although, to attain the Social Security Disability, many parameters are discussed such as:
- For how long have you worked when you were not blind
- How frequently you have paid the Social Security taxes
In case you are applying for Supplemental Security Income then it will be granted based on your income. However, there are other factors that the Social Security Administration (SSA) focuses on. They will analyze your vision in your stronger eye.
If it is very low such as 20/200 with glasses then you will automatically be considered as disabled. In case you have 20/800 in one of the eyes and 20/100 in the other eye then the better eye is 20/100.
20/100 is better than 20/200, which does not meet the SSA definition of statutory blindness based on visual acuity. In this case, you do not automatically qualify for the benefits.
What Happens When Someone Suffers Vision Impairments At The Workplace?
Under the ADA, employers may not discriminate against qualified individuals with vision impairments. A qualified individual is someone who can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
A person does not need to be completely unable to work to be protected under the ADA. Instead, the law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations, unless doing so would cause undue hardship.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces the ADA, harassment or discrimination against employees with disabilities, including vision impairments, is prohibited.
There will be accommodations provided to the visually impaired employee. It also depends on whether the employer is maintaining all the safety protocols at the workplace or not. The safety concerns will be for the visually impaired employees.
What Happens When You Have Lost Eyesight In One Eye?
If someone has lost vision in one of the eyes then do not automatically qualify for attaining the Disability benefits. There is a separate listing of blindness listed by Social Security. It states that when someone has an eyesight of worse than 20/200 then you will qualify for the benefits.
However, if you have a good vision in the stronger eye or better eye then it may be difficult for you to attain the benefits. In some cases, losing eyesight in one eye can refrain you from performing any work.
And if you lost your vision while working that required the binocular vision by using any machinery then you can qualify for the benefits. People who have lost their vision in one eye by working at great heights or while driving then you can apply for the benefits.
There is a medical-vocational allowance for limited eyesight and many people obtain the benefits as per this allowance. For older people, it is a great idea to attain benefits when they apply for this medical allowance. However, for people who are more than 50, 55, or 60,then there are separate grid rules for them for getting the benefits for impaired vision.
Can I Get A Disability For Partial Or Total Blindness?
As per the Social Security Administration (SSA), in case someone is suffering from
- Blindness
- Partially blindness
- Legally blindness
However, you must be able to satisfy all the eligibility requirements as mentioned by the SSA for vision impairment or blindness. There are some age-related problems as well. Some of the problems with older people are cataracts, diabetes, and glaucoma.
People who are suffering from diabetes go through diabetic retinopathy. Other problems caused by retina impairment such as:
- Lupus
- Cancer
- Melanoma
All these can also be one of the causes of visual ailment or blindness. You must have a proper medical prescription that signifies that your vision is worse even after wearing glasses. There is a separate listing for Blindness, partial blindness, and low vision specified by the SSA. The listing sections are as follows: 2.02 is for legal blindness, 2.03 is for partial blindness, and 2.04 is for low vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is needing glasses considered a disability under ADA or SSA rules?
No, it isn’t. If glasses can correct your vision, the underlying impairment usually does not substantially limit major life activities.
2. Can nearsightedness (myopia) qualify as a disability?
If your vision remains extremely poor even with corrective lenses, it could meet the SSA criteria for statutory blindness and may qualify for disability benefits.
3. What vision conditions qualify for disability benefits beyond just wearing glasses?
The following conditions may qualify:
- Vision of 20/200 or worse with correction
- Significant loss of vision in one eye or restricted visual field
- Diseases (Diabetic retinopathy, Glaucoma, severe Cataracts, Age-related macular degeneration, lupus, cancer, or other medical conditions) affecting the retina, optic nerve, or other eye structures
