Did you know the National Federation of the Blind has designated the month of October as Blindness Awareness Month? The purpose of this month is to educate folks and spread the message to communities across the nation.
What does legally blind really mean?
Legally blind does not mean the individual can’t see anything. It means their usable vision is 200/20 in their best eye. 200/20 means that an object 200 feet away can be seen standing 20 feet in front of it.
What are the differences between being blind and legally blind?
A fully blind person usually cannot see anything. There’s usually no vision at all, whereas a legally blind person still has usable vision and sees objects extremely blurry. A legally blind person with some usable vision could benefit from an intense magnifying glass to be able to see something that is right in front of them.
Is this something that is fixable?
Being legally blind is a condition that may be improved with a special lens. For example, we prescribe glasses that have prisms that show things side-to-side, contrast to see things easier or magnify that can help someone with some usable vision see faces, read, and, in some areas, even obtain their driver’s license.
How do I find out if my vision is improvable by a low vision doctor?
You can schedule a free low vision exam *here*. This kind of exam is a more in-depth eye exam that will determine if our tools can help you with your vision.
We customize our tools to your vision so that you can do the things that you love again. Our tools include
- Bioptic telescopes
- Prismatic reading glasses
- Full diameter telescopes
- E-Scoop® glasses
The month of October is dedicated to understanding the realities of living with vision loss. For those with usable vision, we can help. Some conditions that we can help are ocular albinism, Stargardt disease, macular degeneration, and others.
According to the World Health Organization, “everyone will experience, if they live long enough, at least one eye condition in their lifetime” and we believe that there is life after vision loss. Learn your options now by calling 833.376.6445.