her right eye as having gotten worse, and indicates that she is only able to see using her left eye. She complains of pain in the orbital area of the eye, and in the tissue around the eye as far back as her ear. Mrs. M. describes hearing loss concurrent with the vision loss. This is undocumented in other medical findings. The discomfort is worse in cold weather.

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Eye injury claims often require expert testimony from a vision specialist. The vision specialist will meet with the injured person, review the medical reports and create an expert report discussing the psychosocial aspects of vision impairment, the effect of a visual impairment on daily life and treatment and support for people with visual impairments. Here is an example of such a report:

MEDICAL HISTORY

Mrs. M.’s most recent opthamologist visit documented a change of vision in her right eye from 20/200 to “light perception.” This is a significant decrease in usable vision, as was noted by Dr. Elliot.

In an office setting Mrs. M. appeared tense. Her right eye shows some disfigurement around the eye, and the sclera appears red. Mrs. M. squinted frequently under fluorescent office lighting.

Since the incident, Mrs. M. has developed a marked degree of blepharospasm involving both eyes. Blepharospasm is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which causes “uncontrollable blinking and lid squeezing”. It “involves both eyes and may result in temporary inability to see” during spasms. Dictionary of Eye Terminology, 3d Ed., Barbara Cassin, Sheila A. B. Solomon, Triad Publishing Co. Gainesville, FL, 1997. In addition to the functional vision loss this causes, it is very cosmetically displeasing, causing the eyes to squint and blink. During spasms the eyelids almost completely closed causing functional loss of vision.

Mrs. M. describes the vision loss in her right eye as having gotten worse, and indicates that she is only able to see using her left eye. She complains of pain in the orbital area of the eye, and in the tissue around the eye as far back as her ear. Mrs. M. describes hearing loss concurrent with the vision loss. This is undocumented in other medical findings. The discomfort is worse in cold weather.

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report:

MEDICAL HISTORY

Mrs. M.’s most recent opthamologist visit documented a change of vision in her right eye from 20/200 to “light perception.” This is a significant decrease in usable vision, as was noted by Dr. Elliot.

In an office setting Mrs. M. appeared tense. Her right eye shows some disfigurement around the eye, and the sclera appears red. Mrs. M. squinted frequently under fluorescent office lighting.

Since the incident, Mrs. M. has developed a marked degree of blepharospasm involving both eyes. Blepharospasm is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which causes “uncontrollable blinking and lid squeezing”. It “involves both eyes and may result in temporary inability to see” during spasms. Dictionary of Eye Terminology, 3d Ed., Barbara Cassin, Sheila A. B. Solomon, Triad Publishing Co. Gainesville, FL, 1997. In addition to the functional vision loss this causes, it is very cosmetically displeasing, causing the eyes to squint and blink. During spasms the eyelids almost completely closed causing functional loss of vision.

Mrs. M. describes the vision loss in her right eye as having gotten worse, and indicates that she is only able to see using her left eye. She complains of pain in the orbital area of the eye, and in the tissue around the eye as far back as her ear. Mrs. M. describes hearing loss concurrent with the vision loss. This is undocumented in other medical findings. The discomfort is worse in cold weather.

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uinted frequently under fluorescent office lighting.

Since the incident, Mrs. M. has developed a marked degree of blepharospasm involving both eyes. Blepharospasm is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which causes “uncontrollable blinking and lid squeezing”. It “involves both eyes and may result in temporary inability to see” during spasms. Dictionary of Eye Terminology, 3d Ed., Barbara Cassin, Sheila A. B. Solomon, Triad Publishing Co. Gainesville, FL, 1997. In addition to the functional vision loss this causes, it is very cosmetically displeasing, causing the eyes to squint and blink. During spasms the eyelids almost completely closed causing functional loss of vision.

Mrs. M. describes the vision loss in her right eye as having gotten worse, and indicates that she is only able to see using her left eye. She complains of pain in the orbital area of the eye, and in the tissue around the eye as far back as her ear. Mrs. M. describes hearing loss concurrent with the vision loss. This is undocumented in other medical findings. The discomfort is worse in cold weather.

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s. Dictionary of Eye Terminology, 3d Ed., Barbara Cassin, Sheila A. B. Solomon, Triad Publishing Co. Gainesville, FL, 1997. In addition to the functional vision loss this causes, it is very cosmetically displeasing, causing the eyes to squint and blink. During spasms the eyelids almost completely closed causing functional loss of vision.

Mrs. M. describes the vision loss in her right eye as having gotten worse, and indicates that she is only able to see using her left eye. She complains of pain in the orbital area of the eye, and in the tissue around the eye as far back as her ear. Mrs. M. describes hearing loss concurrent with the vision loss. This is undocumented in other medical findings. The discomfort is worse in cold weather.

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her right eye as having gotten worse, and indicates that she is only able to see using her left eye. She complains of pain in the orbital area of the eye, and in the tissue around the eye as far back as her ear. Mrs. M. describes hearing loss concurrent with the vision loss. This is undocumented in other medical findings. The discomfort is worse in cold weather.

With only light perception in her right eye, Mrs. M. functions with monocular vision. Monocular vision leaves her without depth perception. The lack of depth perception has an impact on all activities that require binocular vision. These extend across settings in activities of daily life, mobility, work and recreation.

Some activities that Mrs. M. has identified as difficult include: Reaching for items on a grocery store shelf, measuring ingredients, pouring liquids, laundry, walking up and down steps, accessing public transportation, childcare, and playing recreational Mah-jong, and cards.

Mrs. M. indicates that she used to read for pleasure. She does not read since the incident, due to discomfort from the combined visual issues. She has also reduced her frequency of writing to family members. She uses the telephone in place of the letters she used to write to children and family in the Philippines and Italy.

Mrs. M.’s mobility patterns are typical for an individual with vision loss who has not received vision rehabilitation or orientation and mobility training.

She must protect her left eye by exercising caution in her activities, and by wearing protective eye wear, to retain her remaining vision. Monocular vision, and the depth perception problems it creates, make it harder for individuals to judge distance, and increase the occurrence of small and more serious accidents.

I fabricated two sets of goggles to simulate Mrs. M.’s acuity deficit. The first set simulates 20/200 vision, which was