Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition that affects the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye. This condition can lead to significant vision impairment. Understanding how and when keratoconus might be considered a disability is important for individuals seeking recognition and support. The determination often depends on the severity of its impact on daily life and how legal frameworks define disability.
What is Keratoconus
Keratoconus involves the gradual thinning and outward bulging of the cornea, causing it to become cone-shaped instead of its normal rounded form. This change distorts the way light enters the eye, leading to blurred and distorted vision. Common symptoms include increased sensitivity to light, glare, and double vision, which can reduce an individual’s quality of life.
Visual acuity decreases as the disease advances, often making clear vision difficult even with corrective lenses. Diagnosis typically involves corneal topography, a method that maps the cornea’s shape to reveal characteristic changes. In advanced stages, corneal scarring can occur, further worsening vision.
How Disability is Defined
Disability, from a legal and societal perspective, extends beyond simply having a medical condition. It is fundamentally about how that condition substantially limits one or more major life activities. An impairment qualifies as a disability if it makes it difficult for an individual to perform an activity compared to most people.
Major life activities encompass a wide range of essential daily functions. Examples directly relevant to vision include seeing, reading, and learning. Other examples include caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, sleeping, walking, and working.
Keratoconus Under Disability Laws
Keratoconus can be considered a disability under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if it substantially limits a major life activity, particularly seeing. While keratoconus itself is not automatically a disability, its effects on vision can meet this legal standard. The determination is individualized, depending on the condition’s severity and its specific impact on the individual’s ability to perform daily tasks.
For Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, keratoconus is not specifically listed in the “Blue Book” of impairments. However, individuals may still qualify if their vision loss is severe enough to prevent them from working. This often involves demonstrating that keratoconus symptoms, such as persistent blurry vision, glare, or inability to focus, prevent performing past jobs or other reasonable work. To automatically qualify, vision must be 20/200 or worse in the better eye with correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less.
Accessing Support and Protections
Individuals with keratoconus seeking disability recognition need comprehensive medical documentation. These records demonstrate the extent of visual impairment and its functional limitations. The Social Security Administration, for instance, reviews medical records for evidence of a visual disorder causing more than a minimal effect on daily activities. This documentation includes:
A diagnosis from an ophthalmologist
Detailed results from corneal topography
Visual acuity tests
Visual field measurements
Reasonable accommodations can help individuals with keratoconus perform essential tasks in various settings. In the workplace, examples include adjusting lighting to reduce glare or sensitivity, using larger fonts on computer screens, and allowing frequent breaks to rest the eyes. Telework options can also provide a more controlled environment for managing light sensitivity. For students, accommodations might include additional time for tests or specific lighting adjustments in classrooms.