Guidelines for the purpose of assessing

the extent of specified disability in a

person included under the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
From: The Gazette of India, Extraordinary, No. 61, Part II - Section3 -
Sub-section (ii), Dated: January 5, 2018 / PAUSHA 15, 1939

VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Percent Disability
Impair- category
ment
0% 0
10% 0
20% I
II
30% (One eyed
person)
III a
40%
(low vision)
III b
50%
(low vision)
III c
60%
(low vision)
III d
70%
(low vision)
III e
80%
(low vision)
IV a
90%
(Blindness)
IV b
100%
(Blindness)
19.1. Definition.- Visual impairment
(a) “blindness” means a condition where a person has any of the following conditions, after best correction—
(i) total absence of sight; or
(ii) visual acuity less than 3/60 or less than 10/200 (Snellen) in the better eye with best possible correction; or
(iii) limitation of the field of vision subtending an angle of less than 10 degree.
(b) “low-vision” means a condition where a person has any of the following conditions, namely:—
(i) visual acuity not exceeding 6/18 or less than 20/60 upto 3/60 or upto 10/200 (Snellen) in the better eye with
best possible corrections; or
(ii) limitation of the field of vision subtending an angle of less than 40 degree up to 10 degree.

19.2. Nature of Certificate:

The medical authority will decide whether disability certificate should be temporary or permanent. The disability
shall be permanent to be certified. The certificate can be temporary if condition is likely to worsen and also for
specific purposes such as for pursuing education. The need of reassessment, if required, should be clearly mentioned
in the certificate with time frame. In certain cases such as keratoconus, developmental defects, operated congenital
cataract with corneal decompensation, operated congenital glaucoma with hazy cornea etc., the patient especially can
be issued a temporary certificate.

19.3. Visual Impairment Certification Criteria and Gradation

Vision assessment should be done after best possible correction (medical, surgical or usual/conventional spectacles).
The Ophthalmologist shall circle the vision Status and the Percentage Impairment and mark the Disability category
accordingly as under:-
Better eye Worse Eye Percent Disability category
Best Corrected Best Corrected Impairment
6/6 to 6/18 6/6 to 6/18 0% 0
6/24 to 6/60 10% 0
Less than 6/60 to 3/60 20% I
Less than 3/60 No Light Perception 30% II (One eyed person)
6/24 to 6/60 6/24 to 6/60 40% III a (low vision)
Or Visual field less than 40 up Less than 6/60 to 3/60 50% III b (low vision)
to 20 degree around centre
Less than 3/60 to No Light Perception 60% III c (low vision)
of fixation or heminaopia
involving macula
Less than 6/60 to 3/60 Less than 6/60 to 3/60 70% III d (low vision)
Or Less than 3/60 to No Light Perception 80% III e (low vision)
Visual field less than 20 up to
10 degree around centre of
fixation
Less than 3/60 to 1/60 Less than 3/60 to No Light Perception 90% IV a (Blindness)
Or
Visual field less than 10
degree around centre of
fixation
Only HMCF Only HMCF 100% IV b (Blindness)
Only Light Perception, Only Light Perception,
No Light Perception No Light Perception
For Visual acuity the line should be read completely, in case of partial line read, one line below that line should be
taken for visual acuity.

19.4. Medical Authority.

The medical authority shall comprise of one ophthalmologist and certificate of disability shall be countersigned by
Medical Superintendent or Chief Medical Officer or Civil Surgeon or any other equivalent authority as notified the
State Government.