Is glaucoma a disability?
Under the Equality Act 2010, a condition counts as a disability if it has a substantial (more than minor) and long-term (12 months or more) effect on your normal daily activities. The law looks at how you would be without treatment. If you are certified as sight impaired or severely sight impaired, you are automatically treated as disabled.
At work
Reasonable adjustments could include larger screens, magnification software, good lighting, or changes to driving duties. Access to Work can pay for equipment and support.
Benefits
Glaucoma that is well controlled does not usually affect daily life. If you have lost a lot of sight:
PIP is based on how your sight affects you on most days. Sight loss can affect activities such as:
- reading, if you cannot read normal size print even with glasses
- preparing food, if you cannot safely use a cooker or chop food
- planning and following journeys, if you need someone with you, a guide dog or a cane on unfamiliar routes
- managing medicines, if you cannot read labels
- making budgeting decisions, if you need help reading bills and letters
PIP points self-check
Go through the 12 PIP activities one at a time and see roughly how many points may apply to you.
About 10 minutes. Your answers never leave your device.
If you are over State Pension age, look at Attendance Allowance instead of PIP. It is for people who need help with personal care or supervision.
Registering as sight impaired
If your sight is badly affected, an eye specialist can sign a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) so you can register as sight impaired or severely sight impaired with your council. This can open the door to:
- help from your council's sensory team, such as mobility training and equipment
- a Blue Badge, automatically if you are severely sight impaired
- a Disabled Persons Railcard and a free bus pass
- Blind Person's Allowance, which raises your tax-free income, if you are severely sight impaired
- 50% off your TV licence, if you are severely sight impaired
Registering is voluntary, and you can get some help without it.
Free sight tests
NHS sight tests are free if you have glaucoma. You may also get help with glasses. See help with eye care costs.
Sources we used
- GOV.UK, Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010
- GOV.UK, Access to Work
- RNIB, Registering as sight impaired
- GOV.UK, Personal Independence Payment
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