Disabling Effects

A person with mild visual impairment (acuity or visual field loss) would normally have a visual acuity of better than 6/18 (distant) and up to and including N24 (near). He/ she has a reasonable field of vision.

Mobility

The person has no physical difficulty in walking, and normally has sufficient vision to read signs, cross roads, and negotiate kerbs and steps safely, though he/ she may have to be more vigilant.

Care

He/she would normally be capable of all self-care tasks, such as bathing, dressing, and attending to toilet and hygiene needs. He/ she may require extra light or glasses to cut out glare or for reading (large print books) and for fine tasks such as preparing a meal, combing hair, etc but, in general, adaptations would not be needed.

He/she would normally be able to read large print, write, use a computer and watch TV.

Disabling Effects

A person with moderate visual impairment would normally have a visual acuity (for distant vision) of 6/18 or worse, but better than 6/36. He/ she is not able in general, to see well in the distance, that is, he/ she may have difficulty in recognizing a friend across a road. (“Recognizing a friend” implies the ability to recognize a friend’s facial features, and not from the clothes they are wearing). His/ her near visual acuity would normally be worse than N24, up to N36, and he/ she would be likely to have difficulty in seeing fine detail close up, and may have difficulty reading even quite large print.

He/ she may have quite a reduced field of vision.

Mobility

The person has no physical difficulty in walking.

A person with this level of visual impairment would normally have sufficient vision to get about in unfamiliar surroundings, although he/ she would normally have problems negotiating irregular ground, or obstacles, without assistance.

However, there are a proportion of people whose visual impairment is such that they would not normally be able to read signs, or see a car coming, and so would not be able to get around in unfamiliar surroundings, safely, on their own.

Care

A person with moderate visual impairment should be able, in general, to look after his/ her own personal hygiene, such as washing, bathing, showering, cleaning teeth, dressing, and attending to toilet needs, but there are some people whose vision is impaired to the extent that they may be unable to complete this activity without assistance. Also, for the most part, he/ she should be able to prepare and cook a main meal but there may be some people whose visual impairment is such that they may not be able to peel and chop vegetables, and handle hot pans safely.

They may have considerable difficulty reading recipes, and checking cooker dials, but in some cases these difficulties may be overcome by using visual aids.

They would be normally unable to read labels on medicine bottles, and check medication levels on syringes, and would normally need assistance to take tablets, and administer injections (in the case of diabetics). They are likely to have problems with small fastenings, and, with some people, their ability to see fine detail is affected to the extent that they may need assistance in checking that clothes are clean, match and are appropriate. A person with moderate visual impairment would only be able to work or study in an environment which is adapted to visual impairments.

Extra vigilance and indeed assistance may be needed on stairs. They may be registered Partially Sighted.

Disabling Effects

This is when the visual acuity is greatly reduced even with correction, or there is considerable reduction in visual fields.

A person with severe visual impairment would normally have 6/36 visual acuity for distant vision, worse than N36 for near vision, or considerably reduced visual fields. He/ she may only be able to see shapes or hand movements, or friends at close quarters. He/ she may not be able to tell light from dark, or the shape of furniture in a room.

Mobility

The person would have no physical difficulty walking.

He/she would normally have difficulty in reading signs, crossing roads safely, and negotiating kerbs, and therefore would not normally be able to find his way around in unfamiliar surroundings without assistance.

They may also satisfy the H/R Mobility criteria under the Deaf/blind or the Severely Visually Impaired (SVI) deeming provisions (See below).

Care

The person would normally have difficulty in checking that clothes are appropriate, and that they are clean, and match, and would normally need assistance in this activity, but should be able to dress and attend to toilet needs him/ herself. He/ she would normally need assistance in having a bath or shower, as he/ she would not normally be able to do this safely on his own.

The person would normally need help with administering medicines, checking needles (in the case of diabetics) reading instructions, and would not normally be able to peel or chop vegetables safely, handle pans of boiling water safely or turn cooker knobs to the correct temperature. Assistance would normally be required for cutting up food.

The person would be unable to read, but may use Braille. Writing would not normally be possible.

In the home, he/ she would be likely to need a clear space for getting around, without obstacles, and some people may need assistance. The person would normally not be able to use stairs safely on his/ her own.