Legally Blind

A legal classification of visual impairment used to determine eligibility for government benefits, rehabilitation services, and disability accommodations. In the United States, legal blindness is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with best correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. People who are legally blind may have varying amounts of functional vision—some can read large print, recognize faces, or navigate familiar environments using residual vision. The classification is administrative rather than clinical, and actual visual capabilities vary significantly among individuals meeting this definition.