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Moore Eye Foundation
A Non-Profit Institution for Vision Rehabilitation, Vision Care for the Indigent, Research & Education Blindness and Visual Impairment

  Moore Eye Foundation A Non-Profit Institution for Vision Rehabilitation, Vision Care for the Indigent, Research & Education Blindness and Visual Impairment “Blindness” – What does this word mean to the average person? From biblical days through Milton’s poetry to current television programming, blindness has connoted total darkness, pity and dependency. Studies have shown that blindness is one of the most feared human conditions. This fear is shrouded in misconceptions and distorted attitudes. The most prevalent misconception about blind people is that they have no useable vision. However, the vast majority of the “blind” population does, in fact, “see” and many have considerable remaining vision.

At first glance, it seems a contradiction in terms to say that a blind person can see. This confusion is actually the result of our present system of labeling people as “legally blind”. Legal blindness is a term utilized for legal purposes, tax exemptions, eligibility for specialized education and rehabilitation services, etc. Persons are labeled legally blind if their measured level of visual acuity falls below 20/200 (20/20 is considered perfect vision meaning what is supposed to be seen at 20 feet is seen at 20 feet, whereas in 20/200, what is supposed to be seen at 200 feet away is only seen when this individual is within 20 feet of that object). Most people fail to realize that there is an entire spectrum of visual abilities included in the term legal blindness and that many individuals “going blind” can avail themselves of an enormous variety of optical devices and specialized rehabilitative services to maximize their remaining vision.

“Blind” or “legally blind” knows no barriers in that it affects rich and poor, old and young, all races, all creeds, and all nationalities. Although visual impairment or low vision afflicts all ages, the proportion of individuals affected varies among age categories. The two ends of the age spectrum, infancy and old age, seem to hold the most danger for increase-related problems. The advent of medical and technological breakthroughs which can save the life of an infant often have the side effect of damage to the visual system. Also, infants are now being kept alive who have congenital malformities, which may include brain and/or visual center damage. These babies are increasingly being brought to the attention of eye doctors since sight is such a vital part of development and learning. At the other end of the spectrum, many people who grew up with adequate vision suddenly find themselves afflicted with severe visual impairment later in life through inoperable cataracts, age related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or retinitis pigmentosa, to name just a few of the most prevalent visual disabilities of the elderly population. The literature clearly states that the prevalence of blindness rises steadily with age, and that nearly one-half of the legally blind population is 65 years of age or older. During the 70 years between 1900 and 1970, the total population of the United States grew to almost 3 times its size in 1900, while the older segment grew to almost 7 times during this same time period --- and is still growing faster than the under 65-year age group. This points out the rising population of elderly citizens and this, coupled with the relationship between visual problems and aging, underscores a growing and continuing need for vision rehabilitation.