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Blind, Visually Impaired,
Blindness
The terms partially sighted, low
vision, legally blind, and totally
blind are used in the educational
context to describe students with
visual impairments. They are defined
as follows:
"Partially sighted" indicates some
type of visual problem has resulted
in a need for special education;
"Low vision" generally refers to a
severe visual impairment, not
necessarily limited to distance
vision. Low vision applies to all
individuals with sight who are
unable to read the newspaper at a
normal viewing distance, even with
the aid of eyeglasses or contact
lenses. They use a combination of
vision and other senses to learn,
although they may require
adaptations in lighting or the size
of print, and, sometimes, braille;
"Legally blind" indicates that a
person has less than 20/200 vision
in the better eye or a very limited
field of vision (20 degrees at its
widest point); and
Totally blind students learn via
braille or other non-visual media.
Visual impairment is the consequence
of a functional loss of vision,
rather than the eye disorder itself.
Eye disorders which can lead to
visual impairments can include
retinal degeneration, albinism,
cataracts, glaucoma, muscular
problems that result in visual
disturbances, corneal disorders,
diabetic retinopathy, congenital
disorders, and infection.
Content Courtesy : www.nichcy.org
Note : Information herein is
provided for informational purposes
only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. You
should not use this information for
diagnosing or treating a medical or
health condition. If you have or
suspect you have a medical problem,
promptly contact your professional
healthcare provider. Please consult
your healthcare provider before
beginning any course of
supplementation or treatment.
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