What Defines Legally Blind Vision: The Case of 20/60 Vision

In the Netherlands, if you have a visual acuity of 20/60, you would be considered to have low myopia rather than being legally blind. This article delves into the details of what 20/60 vision means, why it is not considered legally blind, and the implications it has for daily life and occupational safety.

Understanding 20/60 Vision

20/60 vision indicates that a person can see something at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 60 feet. The estimated refractive error in this case is -1.25, which is fairly mild. To put this in perspective, a person with 20/20 vision can see at 20 feet what someone with 20/60 vision can only see at 60 feet.

Using glasses, 20/60 vision can be corrected to better than 20/20. This makes it possible to perform regular, safe jobs. A person would be considered legally blind if they could not read the big E on the eye chart even with the aid of glasses.

Visual Acuity and Legally Blindness

For a person to be considered legally blind, their visual acuity must be 20/200 or worse. 20/200 vision is referred to as 'unsuccessful at distinguishing the big E' and means that the individual cannot see something at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 200 feet. To help visualize this, imagine the following simulations for different levels of vision:

20/20 vision: Everything is clear. 20/40 vision: You can see the fifth line on the eye chart. 20/100 vision: You can see the second line on the eye chart. 20/200 vision: You cannot see the big E on the chart, leading to legal blindness.

It is important to note that 20/160 vision or better is required to see the big E on the eye chart. Therefore, having 20/200 vision means you are legally blind. However, 20/200 vision does not require the use of special equipment to survive. Mild legal blindness, such as 20/200, would not be a hindrance in situations where complete blindness would be problematic, like escaping a riot or a burning house.

Classifications of Visual Impairment

According to the U.S. standards, 20/40 vision or worse is considered visually impaired, while 20/200 or worse is considered legally blind. In my state, a person must have a corrected vision of 20/40 in one eye to be allowed to drive. However, a 20/60 vision is generally not considered legally blind unless there is some other condition like markedly restricted visual field.

Many individuals with 20/60 vision can have their vision improved to 20/20 through corrective lenses or standard refractive surgeries. These procedures have greatly improved over the years, providing significant relief to those who were once severely visually impaired.

Perspectives from Personal Experience

I can personally attest to the life-changing impact of having 20/60 vision after undergoing a modern surgery. Having a vision of 20/400 in my better eye and much worse in my worse eye, I found myself grateful for even a slight improvement to 20/60. It was transformative, making tasks and situations previously challenging much more manageable.

My experience highlights the importance of accessibility to healthcare and vision correction procedures. Many individuals were unable to correct their vision due to lack of access to these procedures, leading to unnecessary health and psychological issues.

It is unfortunate that bullying occurs due to physical and visual impairments. These issues are often beyond an individual's control and should not be subjects for ridicule or persecution. It is important to foster a more understanding and accepting society.