• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • 01245 933 572
Support 4 Sight
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Meet the Trustees
    • Our Stories
    • Key Documents
  • How We Can Help You
    • Assessment Service
    • Chelmsford Hub
    • Emotional Support
    • Home Visits
    • Low Vision
    • Moving On With Sightloss
    • Support 4 Employment
    • Talks & Presentations
    • Uttlesford Talking News
    • Vision Impairment Awareness Training
  • How You Can Help Us
    • Fundraising
    • Corporate Fundraising
    • Give as you Live
    • Job Vacancies
    • Volunteering
  • Events
    • Coffee Mornings / Roaming Resources
    • Exhibitions & Focus Days
    • Social Trips and Events
  • Eye Health & Conditions
    • Eye Conditions
    • Eye Health
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / Eye Health & Conditions2 / Eye Conditions

Eye Conditions

How bad does your visual impairment need to be to be registered as a blind or partially sighted person?

The definition of blindness used in registration is still taken from the National Assistance Act 1948, which states that a person can be certified as blind if they are ‘so blind that they cannot do any work for which eyesight is essential’.

Your eye specialist (a consultant ophthalmologist) will decide if you can be certified as severely sight impaired (blind) or sight impaired (partially sighted) according to whether you meet the criteria for certification by measuring your:

  • Visual acuity – your central vision, the vision you use to see detail.
  • Visual field – how much you can see around the edge of your vision, while looking straight ahead.
Click here to read more

Eye Conditions Glossary

We have put together a glossary for various eye conditions, including their symptoms and treatments.

Please click on the links below to find out more.

Cataracts

Clouding of the lens of the eye causing light to scatter and vision to blur

Click here to read more

Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Click here to read more

Detached Retina

Where the inside layer (retina) of the eye detaches and, although symptoms can vary, commonly a dark shadow affects vision

Click here to read more

Diabetic Retinopathy

A complication of diabetes where the blood vessels at the back of the eye leak and rupture with loss of vision

Click here to read more

Glaucoma

Where the pressure within the eye ball increases and there is a loss of side vision leading to tunnel vision

Click here to read more

Macular Degeneration – Wet and Dry

Sometimes known as Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) where the rear central (and most sensitive) part of the eye begins to degenerate leaving a ‘dark or blank hole’ in your vision

Click here to read more

Nystagmus

This is characterised by uncontrollable movements of the eyes either from side to side or up and down. The constantly moving image causes blurring

Click here to read more

Retinitis Pigmentosa

A hereditary condition affecting the retina resulting in poor vision in poor light and restriction of visual field and tunnel vision

Click here to read more

Terms often used when talking about different levels of sight loss:

Blindness

does not necessarily mean a person is totally without sight, although of course it can do. Some people may have no vision at all, others may have some perception of light only and others will have varying levels of residual vision.

Long-sightedness (Hypermetropia)

is where someone has difficulty seeing things which are close by e.g. reading or sewing.

Low vision

refers to a severe visual impairment where people are unable to read print at a normal viewing distance even with the aid of spectacles or contact lenses.

Partially sighted

Refers to having a significant degree of sight loss that cannot be fully corrected with glasses or contact lenses, but where vision is still present, allowing for some level of visual function.

Registered blind

The term ‘registered blind‘ is used when the vision of a person is reduced so much it meets a laid down criterion and the person wishes for this to be officially recognised as a disability.

Short-sightedness (Myopia)

is where someone has difficulty getting a clear image of objects which are in the distance e.g. difficulty in reading notice boards, problems seeing traffic approaching etc.

Visual acuity

is a term used to describe the sharpness of the images seen. It is generally measured by a Snellen Chart which has nine rows of letters in decreasing sizes. Perfect vision can be expressed as a group of numbers i.e. 20/20, which means an individual can see the same detail at 20 feet as a standard observer can.

Visual field

refers to what can be seen centrally (straight-ahead) and peripherally (off to each side and up and down).

Visual processing disorders

refers to problems regarding making sense of what is seen through the eyes, i.e. a difficulty in the brain interpreting what it is seeing.

Donate Today!

Legal

Cookie Policy

Privacy Policy

Sign-up to our Newsletter

Download latest Newsletter

Sightline Newsletter

Follow us

Contact Us

Telephone: 01245 933572
Email: info@support4sight.org.uk

Support 4 Sight
17 Cottage Place
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1NL

© Copyright - Support 4 Sight 2025. Registered Charity No. 1169324
Scroll to top
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Font Resize
Accessibility by WAH
  • About Us
  • How We Can Help You
  • How You Can Help Us
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Donate