I got a routine eye exam today, and at the end, being the curious type that I am, asked exactly how bad my eyes are in simple terms. I’m about 20/800 without glasses. 20/200 is the threshold for “legal blindness.” My current lenses are, at best, 20/40 or so.
So that means I’m legally blind, and by quite a margin. But it’s such a simple correction to make me legal (run of the mill glasses, if maybe a little thick, that will put me at 20/15), that it really seems insulting to people who have problems that cannot be so easily corrected. I have no color perception or light sensitivity problems, I have great peripheral vision. I can wear contacts if I so desire (granted, they are astigmatism contacts). It’s scary to think that I could presumably exploit disability benefits if I were immorally inclined, when there are people out there with far more genuine need.
Legally blind is actually 20/200 with the strongest possible correction - therefore, you are only legally blind if glasses/contacts/surgery can correct you to no better than that point.
That’s ok, thought the same of myself once - only 20/250 w/o correction
That’s the thing about having messed up eyes - you miss stuff. At least… that’s what I’ll tell the judge.
You can take a shower in the dark. I even shave my legs.
You know the whole way around your house in the dark. This is a plus when you’re chasing toddlers around at 3 a.m. Or burglars.
You can eat or drink in the dark.
I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 8 . . hmm, that’s almost 40 years. I’m legally blind also. I guess you can tell I’m very comfortable with it.
This is a plus when you’re chasing toddlers around at 3 a.m. Or burglars.