Blindness vs. Low Vision — Not the Same Thing
Blindness vs. Low Vision — Not the Same Thing
- Visual impairment is an umbrella term covering a wide range of conditions that affect how a person sees.
- Blindness and low vision are not interchangeable terms — they refer to different levels of functional vision.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Blindness | A severe form of visual impairment where a person cannot see anything or only perceives light, and cannot perform tasks even with assistive devices. Often refers to a visual acuity worse than 3/60 (0.05) or a visual field less than 10° in the better eye with best correction. |
| Low Vision | A condition where visual function is impaired but some vision remains and can be used with assistive devices or environmental adaptations. Typically refers to visual acuity less than 6/18 (0.3) but better than 3/60 (0.05). |
Note: someone with low vision may not look visually impaired and may navigate environments without a cane or guide — but still faces challenges in reading signs, recognising faces, or moving in unfamiliar spaces.