Definitions and numbers

Blind:

The legal definition is derived from the National Assistance Act 1948 which says that a person can be certified as blind if they are “so blind that they cannot do any work for which eyesight is essential”.

A person can be registered as blind if their visual acuity is 3/60 or worse (they can see at three metres, or less, what a person with normal vision can see at 60 metres); or 6/60 if their field of vision is very restricted.

Partially sighted:

There is no legal definition of partial sight. A person may be certified as partially sighted if they are not blind within the meaning of the 1948 Act but are “substantially and permanently handicapped by defective vision, caused by congenital defect or illness or injury”.

A person can be registered as partially sighted if their visual acuity is between 3/60 and 6/60 with a full field of vision, or up to 6/18 (18 is the number of the fourth line down the Snellen eye chart) if their field of vision is very restricted.

Visually impaired:

Includes all blind and partially sighted people. Preferred terminology for some people. Others do not like the implication that blind or partially sighted people are impaired or damaged sighted people.

Visually handicapped:

Older terminology. The word “handicapped” is rarely used now.

People with sight problems:

Many blind people object to this term as being too inclusive – it could mean anyone who wears glasses – but also for the same reasons that they would not use “visually impaired”.

Deafblind:

People who have a combined sight and hearing loss which has a significant impact on their ability to cope with daily living tasks. Deafblindness is more than just a combination of blindness and deafness – it is a separate disability where the deafblind person cannot function as either a deaf person or a blind person.

Registration:

Registration entitles a person to a range of benefits and concessions, and help from some local voluntary groups. Only a consultant ophthalmologist can certify that a person is eligible for registration. After carrying out a range of tests to determine the severity of a person's sight problem, the ophthalmologist will sign a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) and send it to the social services department. The CVI confirms that the person is eligible to be registered as either:

sight impaired/partially sighted, or
severely sight impaired/blind.

These new categories were introduced in November 2003 following a review of the entire referral and registration process. Registration is entirely voluntary – social services should not register anyone without their consent.

The consultant will check the person’s vision, including their field of vision, and measure distance vision (visual acuity) using the Snellen eye chart. The chart has 9 lines of letters, decreasing in size from the top line. If you can read just the top line from 6 metres distance this means you have visual acuity of 6/60. That is, you can see at 6 metres distance what a person with normal vision would see at 60 metres. You would wear your usual glasses or contact lenses (if any) for the examination.

Eye conditions:

Only a very small percentage of blind people have no sight at all. Many people who are registered blind can see light and movement, or more than that but within a restricted field of vision.

Everyone’s eye condition is different –

it might affect their distance or near vision;they might have no central vision or no vision to the sides;
their sight might be patchy or it might be blurred;
their sight might vary with their health and with the time of day:
some people can see well to get around but not to read, for others reading is no problem but mobility is difficult.

Numbers:

Statistics on all registered blind and partially sighted people in England are collected every three years. At 31 March 2003 the figures were:

157,000 people registered blind – 67% over age 75
155,000 people registered partially sighted – 68% over 75

The RNIB have estimated that at any one time there could actually be more than 4 million people who experience blindness or partial sight, including those with temporary sight loss while waiting for surgery or other sight correction and others who are not registered.

For further information:

www.rnib.org RNIB website - Registering as blind or PS, Sight problems