Your visual field efficiency impacts your peripheral vision. Even if your vision when looking straight ahead scores a perfect 20/20, you might still qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) if you have poor peripheral vision. Poor peripheral vision might qualify you as being legally blind. Often, peripheral vision problems are caused by glaucoma or other kinds of peripheral retinal disease, such as retinitis pigmentosa.
How is a Visual Field Efficiency Calculated?
A visual field test for perimetry is simple and painless. The physician will use a perimeter, either an Octopus, an automated Humphrey Field Analyzer, or a Goldmann perimeter to conduct the test. No dilation is required, and you put your chin upon a rest then look straight into the machine. Whenever you notice a flash of light somewhere in the field, you press a button.
The flashes might be dim or bright, and they occur randomly throughout the visual area. Your responses are mapped based on the intensity and location of the light, so the doctor can measure how far you can see from the central point.
Consult With a Social Security Attorney
If you have problems with your peripheral vision and have shown this difficulty with visual field efficiency tests, you might be eligible to receive disability benefits. You should consult with an attorney who handles Social Security disability claims. The claims process is challenging and require extensive documentation. Your odds of a successful claim are much higher with the help of a disability lawyer.
