Redefining Legal Blindness.

The major causes of visual impairment in the U.S. are diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataract, and age related macular degeneration. Because these conditions are closely
linked with aging, as the population gets older, an increase in visual impairment can be expected. Public Health professionals will be faced with challenges in studying the
epidemiology of blindness, program planning, and administration of federal and state funds.
In order to meet these challenges it must be determined what level of vision constitutes legal blindness. The legal definition of blindness was developed in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act. Although advances have been made in the treatment of eye disease, and in the measurement of visual performance, this definition has not been changed in 55 years. It is no longer adequate for purposes of certification of blindness or for epidemiologic studies.
The law describing legal blindness needs to be evaluated and areas of potential variability need to be eliminated in order to ensure uniform standards.