Complete vision loss or blindness refers to a severe loss or absence of vision. A person is considered legally blind:
- when they cannot see at six metres what someone with normal vision can see at 60 metres
- if their field of vision is less than 20 degrees in diameter (as a person with normal vision can see 180 degrees).
(Vision Australia 2007)
Blindness may result from wasting or atrophy of nerve and retinal cells (MDA Internet 2005).
Low vision can be caused by a number of different diseases, conditions or accidents. Some eye conditions are congenital (present at or near birth), others are caused by a disease or infection and others can be caused by accidents or through exposure to damaging UV rays (sunlight) or chemicals.
Workplace adjustments and solutions
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
MDA Internet 2005, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 7 February 2007, <http://www.mdainternet.com (secure site)>.
Vision Australia 2007, Vision Australia, Sydney, viewed 1 March 2007, <http://www.visionaustralia.org.au>.