title: Evaluating the laws defining blindness.
abstract: The law defining legal blindness was written in 1935, and has not been updated since. A historical view of the background in the development of this law and a comparison to laws used in other countries helps to point out some problems with the current definition. As the population gets older, the prevalence of visual impairment will be increasing. To administer programs, distribute funding, and ensure adequate care, the problems inherent in the definition of legal blindness must be addressed, and the law must be revised.
authors.affiliation: Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton 92631.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoppe
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness; D006801:Humans; D007183:Income Tax / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007883:Legislation, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D012943:Social Security / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States; D014786:Vision Disorders; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields; D014944:World Health Organization