legally blind?

[KRB14]

What prescription is considered legally blind? My contact prescription is over -5.00. I am wondering if I am legally blind WITHOUT contacts or glasses.

[DeniseAnn]

I just had an eye exam and my vision has decreased, my left eye they said was -13.25 and right is -13.50. Someone told me that I work with that a -14.00 is legally blind, really?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

1. If you can see with glasses or contacts you are never legally blind with or without them.
2. For most people that don't like glasses or contacts refractive surgery like lasik is a good alternative.
3. If you have lasik you will still need reading glasses when you get older starting in early 40's
4. Only an exam by an Eye MD ophthalmologist can tell how much of a myopic RX can be corrected with lasik and how good of a candidate a person is.
5. You can find an Eye MD near you in USA at www.geteyesmart.org

JCH MD

[akraft2014]

My contacts are -8.25 and -7.75 and I'm 17, going on 18. Would it be good to have laser eye surgery or are there more negatives to laser eye surgery than positives?

[ksprague]

My contact lense correction level right now is -7.50 and and I am just seeking some clarification.

1) So, if my vision is completely fixed with lenses then I am not legally blind, correct?

2) I heard that if my correction level is at a certain point then I am considered legally blind. If this is true, what is that level.

3) Last, what  would -7.50 be equivilant to? Ex: 20/20, 20/40, 20/200, etc.

[waseb23]

My prescription is -7 and -7.5 is there any type of way to make it better like laser eye surgery or will that not help?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It is not likely at all that your complaints are an indication of a blinding eye disease.  If you live in US ask your family MD for a referral to an ophthalmologist or go to www.geteyesmart.org  and go in for an eye examination.
JC MD