Social Security Disability: Vision Loss

Social Security defined visual disorders as “abnormalities of the eye, the optic nerve, the optic tracts, or the brain that may cause a loss of visual acuity or visual fields.” Social Security continues by clarifying that “loss of visual acuity limits your ability to distinguish detail, read, or do fine work [while] a loss of visual fields limits your ability to perceive visual stimuli in the peripheral extent of vision.”

A common standard Social Security has to be considered due to blindness is having a corrected vision of 20/200 in your best eye. What does that mean? That means while wearing glasses, your vision in your best eye is 20/200 or worse. Many people think they can not work because they are blind in one eye. While having poor vision in one eye, even to the point of 20/200, may be helpful to your Social Security Disability claim, it is unlikely to automatically qualify you for Social Security Disability.

I have heard many people say “My doctor says I can’t even drive. How do they expect me to get to work if I can’t drive?” The fact of the matter is Social Security is not necessarily concerned about how you get to work; their job is to determine whether you can do a job once you get there. It may seem strange or even unfair, but unfortunately that is how it is generally approached.

If you are having vision problems that are preventing you from working, Scheidler Law would be happy to speak with you and help you through the Social Security Disability process.