VISUAL STANDARDS

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THE ORGANTHE PERSONStructural change, atthe organ levelFunctional change atthe Organ levelSkills, Abilities (ADL)of the individualSocial, EconomicConsequencesEye HealthVisual FunctionsFunctional VisionQuality of LifeRange of Normal Vision(Near-)Normal VisionMild Vision LossModerate Vision LossSevere Vision LossLow VisionProfound Vision LossNear-Blindness(Near-)BlindnessBlindn essVISUALSTANDARDSASPECTS and RANGESof VISION LOSSwith Emphasis on Population Surveys Report prepared for the International Council of Ophthalmology at the 29th International Congress of Ophthalmology Sydney, Australia, April 2002Resolution adopted by the International Council of OphthalmologySydney, Australia, April 20, 2002 (1)WHEREAS lack of clarity about the appropriate use of the term Blindness has led to confusion about itsdefinition and to varying reports about its prevalence and incidence andWHEREAS the mission of ophthalmology and the International Council of Ophthalmology is not limited to theprevention of blindness, but also includes the prevention and remediation of lesser levels of vision loss, whichdo not fit under the term blindness ,THEREFORE, be it resolved that the International Council of Ophthalmology, at its meeting in Sydney,Australia, April 2002(A)Recommends to the World Vision Community the use of the following terminology (2): Blindness to be used only for total vision loss and for conditions where individuals have to relypredomina

Blindness, using the definitions provided in ICD-9 and ICD-10. For many purposes, especially to describe the consequences of lesser degrees of vision loss, finer distinctions are desirable. The ranges first proposed in the 1970’s by the WHO and the International Council of Ophthalmology and published in ICD-9 and ICD-9-CM can serve this purpose.