The most severe visual problems one can encounter are the loss of vision and blindness. Experiencing either can be an after effect of an injury or illness, and has an everlasting impact on one’s life. Having a sensory change can be debilitating. In this article we will outline eyesight disabilities and benefits one is entitled to when they are deemed to be disabled due to an eyesight related illness or injury. It is important that you are aware of the types of vision problems that can grant an individual disability benefits and understand the different sets of rights governing vision disabilities.
While the majority of vision illness and loss occurs after the age of 45, there are cases when younger individuals may encounter sudden vision loss or blindness as well. The most common eye related issues in which individuals apply for vision disability benefits include:
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
- Macular Degeneration
- Diabetic Retinopathy
The list above includes vision related problems that are a cause for blindness/vision loss and require disability support for long-term disability benefits. There are many other vision related diseases which can cause vision loss and require the support of disability benefits; such include, but are not limited to: retinal detachment, amblyopia, strabismus and keratoconus.
Common Eyesight Disabilities
While symptoms are similar between vision illness and vision injury, there are distinct differences that impact an individual’s day to day life differently.
Cataracts
Cataracts are one of the most common vision problems encountered by older people in Canada, and are the leading cause of blindness in the world. Cataracts cloud the lenses of an individuals eyes. Common symptoms include:
– Blurry vision
– Double vision
– Faded colours
– Glare
– Decrease in nighttime vision ability
Those who encounter cataracts often need to change their seeing eyeglass prescriptions frequently. They also require anti-glare sunglasses that block the maximum amount of ultraviolet sunlight that they can. Having the proper eye ware can delay the development of cataracts. If someone has access to group-benefits that include eyeglass prescriptions, then their disability benefits may be adjusted accordingly to accommodate more frequent prescription changes
Glaucoma
Glaucoma usually occurs when there is fluid build up, and thus pressure, inside the eye. This increasing pressure begins to damage the eye’s optic nerve, leading to blindness. One suffers differently depending on the stage of their condition.
Open-angle glaucoma symptoms include:
– Tunnel vision
– Blind spots in peripheral vision
– Blind spots in central vision
Acute angle-closure glaucoma symptoms include:
– Eye pain
– Headache (which at times can be severe)
– Eye redness
– Blurred vision
– Halos appearing around lights
– Nausea and Vomiting
Certain genetic factors influence the possibility of suffering from glaucoma. According to studies, African Americans are three times more likely to experience glaucoma than Caucasians. This increases substantially with age; between ages 45-64, Glaucoma is fifteen times more likely to cause blindness in African Americans than Caucasians. Because of these genetic facts, it is important that people who are at risk properly get they eyes examined, no less than two times a year.
About half of the population with glaucoma is not aware of their disease yet, for glaucoma is often non-symptomatic in its starting stages. If there is any family history of glaucoma, be sure to inform you family physician and optometrist in order to ensure proper screening for the disease.
Once the disease progresses, certain medications can be taken to lower the pressure inside the eye, as well as to protect and preserve the optic nerve from further damage that can result in vision loss. Currently, there is no cure for glaucoma.
- Serious eye injuries can lead to glaucoma. It is important that one wears proper eye protection when using things such as power tools or playing racket sports.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is often considered a age-related degeneration of the eye in individuals 60 years and older (also known as age-related macular degeneration or AMD). That being said, one can encounter macular degeneration from certain systemic diseases and injury.
This disease destroys the part of the eye responsible for central vision and sharpness, the macula, which is used to see objects clearly and effectively with fine detail.
There are two types of macular degeneration, “wet” & “dry”. Both types include symptoms of:
-Visual distortions of lines and shapes
-Decreased sense of intensity and brightness of colours
-Decreasing central vision
- “Wet” Macular degeneration can cause one to experience:
-Blurry spots or blind spots in entire field of vision
-General blurriness in entire field of vision
-Rapid worsening of symptoms, or abrupt onset of such
- “Dry” Macular degeneration can cause one to experience:
-Slower adaptation to low light levels
-Difficulty reading text
-Difficulty recognizing faces
An individual who suffers from macular degeneration will have a decreasing ability to do routine daily tasks such as reading and driving. Those suffering from “dry” macular degeneration will begin to be effected less by light, and the ability to see light due to a loss in the light-sensitive cells in the macula.
Diabetic Retinopathy
This type of vision loss is due to an underlying diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue found at the back of the eye. It can occur in anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Most individuals do not experience symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. For this reason, it is important that when one is diagnosed with diabetes, they have there eyes checked by a specialist at least once a year. The longer one suffers from diabetes, or does not control their blood sugar, the more likely they are to suffer from retinopathy. Symptom progression includes:
- Impaired colour vision
- Spots or dark lines floating in one’s vision (also known as floaters)
- Dark or “empty” areas in one’s field of vision
- Blurred vision
- Fluctuating vision
- Vision loss
Eyesight Disability Health Benefits
Each province and territory in Canada offers different health benefits for vision. In Ontario, OHIP covers:
– annual eye examinations for patients under 20 years of age
– annual eye examinations for patients 65 years of age or older
– eye examinations for all patients with medical conditions that affect the eye such as injury, infection or disease.
The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) offers Vision Care Benefits which provide:
– routine eye examinations for you and your family (typically once every two years)
– cost coverage or assistance with the cost of prescription eye ware for you, your spouse and your children under the age of 18 years of age (once every three years)
– assistance with the cost of eyeglass repairs for you, your spouse and your children under 18 years of age
Many employees receiving group benefits from their employers receive vision care coverage as part of their benefits package. What is covered, as well as how much of the cost, is dependent on the type of insurance plan you have. Referring to your benefits booklet, or speaking with and insurance agent will better educate you on the type of vision benefits you have access to.
If you require short-term disability leave, or long-term disability leave due to an eyesight disability, see an optometrist to obtain the proper medical documentation to validate your disability. Suffering from complete vision loss in one or two eyes often grants one to disability leave due to being visually impaired.
Denied Eyesight Disability: Contacting a Toronto Disability Lawyer
If you or a loved one have filed for a short-term disability, long-term disability, or vision related insurance claim and have faced a denied insurance claim, speak with a disability claims attorney. When speaking to a claims lawyer, you will gain a better understanding of the types of benefits you are eligible and entitled to, as well as your legal rights when it comes to claiming your disability. If you suffering from a vision related injury, and are not at fault, we highly suggest you contact a personal-injury lawyer to properly pursue the liable party for your disability and income loss as a result of your injury.
TSF Lawyrs is one of Ontarios best insurance claim and personal injury law firms. We offer free fifteen minute consultations, in person or over the phone; call us today- TSF Law is always there for you.
