The last timechanges like these were made to the way visual disorders should be evaluated was 2006, and these new revisions were put in place due to questions that adjudicators have brought up since that time. Barring any further revisions or extensions, the most recent changes will be in effect for the next 5 years.
How Have the Visual Disorder Listings Changed?
There are 7 specific changes that were made during this round of revisions to the visual disorder listings.
- References to perimeter manufacturers have been taken out and it’s now okay for evaluators to use other “automated static threshold perimeters” beyond just Humphrey Field Analyzers.
- Language now makes it clearer that visual field efficiency that has been determined through the use of kinetic perimetry is roughly equivalent to when automated static threshold perimetry is used to discover the visual field mean deviation or defect (MD). What does that mean? Essentially, that both processes are similar and can be used interchangeably.
- The rules now explain how you can use the MD to determine someone’s overall visual efficiency.
- They clarify how the results of cycloplegic refraction are used by the SSA when evaluating visual disorders.
- Descriptions of blepharospasm and cortical visual disorders have been stricken from the text in the introduction.
- Listing 2.04 has been revised to explain that visual efficiency should be evaluated by using field test results from both kinetic perimetry and automated static threshold perimetry.
- The introductory text and listings specific to children also received similar revisions.
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What Do These Changes Mean?
Overall, the revisions have been made to clarify and explain things that we were previously difficult to understand. This should make it easier for claimants to know what they need to prove and what tests are acceptable to use. Additionally, it should help judges to understand what they’re ruling on.
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