Nine Eye Problems that Qualify for Disability Benefits

Low Vision

Eye problems can significantly affect your quality of life. It can severely limit your vital functions like identifying objects, reading, and moving from one place to another. Thus, it probably makes you unable to work full-time and earn enough income.

The good news is that the Social Security Administration (SSA) awards disability benefits to eligible people with eye problems.

You only have to know what eye problems qualify and how to prepare your application. So, read on to understand the process.

What Eye Conditions Qualify for Disability Insurance

The SSA generally approves disability benefits applications if a person’s condition is:

  • Disabling enough that it prevents the person from working and earning sufficient income
  • Expected to last for at least 12 months or may cause death

Now, you may qualify for disability benefits if you have these eye problems, as stated in the SSA Blue Book listing 2.00:

1. Legal Blindness

This is severe vision loss with less than 20/200 visual acuity and 20 degrees of peripheral vision or visual field. So, it could result from congenital problems, disease, or physical trauma.

2. Partial Sight or Low Vision

This condition refers to untreatable severe vision difficulty in one or both eyes. It usually involves blurry vision, night blindness, and partial central or peripheral vision.

3. Cataracts

This condition refers to cloudy eye lenses that obstruct vision. The obstruction could interfere when performing simple tasks and make it difficult for a person to work.

4. Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that affects the Salivary and Tear Glands. Aside from mouth dryness, it also causes eyelid inflammation, dry eye, and corneal abrasion.

5. Glaucoma

This incurable condition involves significantly high pressure in the eyes that affects the optic nerves and causes vision loss.

6. Hemianopia

Hemianopia is an unusual eye problem that reduces the visual field that a person can see by 50%. However, it results from brain damage that affects the optic nerves.

7. Macular Degeneration

It refers to the degeneration of the eye’s central retina that affects a person’s central vision.

8. Diabetic Retinopathy

This condition results from Type 1 or 2 Diabetes complications that damage the blood vessels behind the eyes. And it could lead to mild or severe vision loss, depending on the case.

9. Eye Cancer

Cancer could begin developing in the eyes or start from other body organs and later affect the eyes. So, it could lead to vision loss or sight distortion, like seeing floating shapes or figures.

Preparing Your Disability Benefits Application

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Now, here are a couple of points to keep in mind if you think your condition qualifies for disability insurance:

  • Consult Your Eye Doctor

Secure a copy of your medical report from your eye doctor. The document should prove your condition and how it affects your daily functions.

Also, it’s better to complete the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form with your doctor. The RFC form will prove the tasks you can and cannot complete due to your eye condition.

  • Hire a Social Security Benefits Lawyer

Next, take your medical documents to a Glendale Social Security benefits attorney. So, they will help prepare your requirements and increase your likelihood of getting approved.

Social Security Benefits Lawyer in Glendale to Get Insurance for Your Eye Problems

Suffering from an eye problem could severely limit your ability to work and earn sufficient income. You thus deserve the additional support that disability insurance offers, as long as your condition meets the SSA requirements.

Hiring a Glendale Social Security benefits attorney will help you get the SSA approval and financial help.

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