As a reminder to the disabled, January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, aimed at spreading education about the sight-stealing disease.
According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, there are currently 2.7 million people in the United States over age 40 with glaucoma. The National Eye Institute actually projects this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030, a 58 percent increase.
Glaucoma is a terrible issue many Americans face, as there are no real symptoms reported before sight is lost, with people losing as much as 40 percent of their vision before they begin to see doctors. Once vision is lost, it becomes permanent.
The issue is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, and disproportionately affects African Americans and Latinos. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the disease is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans than Caucasians.
I Have Glaucoma and Cannot Work
Any person suffering from profound permanent vision loss or total blindness is eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will take into account a person’s remaining visual acuity, his or her level of peripheral vision and the loss value efficiency in the eye, which may have the best visibility.
If you suffer from profound vision loss or total blindness, contact a Tulsa Social Security disability attorney. We offer free evaluations of your case, and you may reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404. Contact us today.
Source: http://www.glaucoma.org/news/glaucoma-awareness-month.php