Preferred Label : Blindness and low vision;
Exclusion : Correctable impaired vision due to refractive errors (367.0-367.9);
Note : Visual impairment refers to a functional limitation of the eye (e.g., limited visual
acuity or visual field). It should be distinguished from visual disability, indicating
a limitation of the abilities of the individual (e.g., limited reading skills, vocational
skills), and from visual handicap, indicating a limitation of personal and socioeconomic
independence (e.g., limited mobility, limited employability). The levels of impairment
defined in the table after 369.9are based on the recommendations of the WHO Study
Group on Prevention of Blindness (Geneva, November 6-10, 1972; WHO Technical Report
Series 518), and of the International Council of Ophthalmology (1976). Note that definitions
of blindness vary in different settings. For international reporting, WHO defines
blindness as profound impairment. This definition can be applied to blindness of one
eye (369.1, 369.6) and to blindness of the individual (369.0). For determination of
benefits in the U.S.A., the definition of legal blindness as severe impairment is
often used. This definition applies to blindness of the individual only.;
Origin ID : 369;
UMLS CUI : C0155020;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- DO Cross reference
- Semantic type(s)
- UMLS correspondences (same concept)
