A decrease in average earnings or total loss of income from work after vision loss is common too, with workers often being unable to continue employment in their traditional field. The cornea is the clear tissue that covers the front of your eye. As part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), JAN represents the most comprehensive job accommodation resource available. Vietnam Veteran old Dog As keratoconus develops, it can lead to a severe loss of vision, corneal thinning and scarring. Others may be able to self-accommodate if given flexibility to adjust the lighting near their workstation. There are higher ratings for a higher number code. Talk to your Eye Dr if further questions. Tiny fibers of protein in your eye called collagen help hold . With the help of a disability lawyer, you can determine the best way to proceed and figure out what is best for your specific needs. While your vision may not meet a disability listing now, the SSA can see from your diagnosis that your vision will continue to worsen, eventually reaching the severity level noted in the Blue Book. In this article about VA disability for Gulf War Syndrome The procedure may require the removal of the thin outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) to allow the riboflavin to more easily penetrate the corneal tissue. The Blue Book is accessible online for you and your doctor to consult. Those 9 months which dont have to be consecutive allow a disabled individual to determine if he or she is capable of earning a living again. Copyright 2023 | Hadit.com | Hadit.com is exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Social Security will notify you of the decision by mail. In our eye cornea acts like a lens and focuses light on the retina. You would have to investigate the environmentalimpacts of it, and make an argument for it, and try to get a private doctor to provide a medical opinion concurring with an environmental etiology for it to hold water. JAN During the trial period, you must report your earnings, work activity, and your expenses to the SSA. The younger the person the more likely is a rapid progression usually by the age of 40. My initial vision was determined to be 20 / 1250 in the right eye and 20 / 850 in the left eye. So, even if you don't meet one of Social Security's listings, you might still be found disabled under Social Security's other rules. It most commonly develops in . Patients with keratoconus are often very near-sighted and have as Corneal collagen crosslinking (www.Cxlusa.Com) is a procedure that can stop the progression of keratoconus this is a first line treatment for patient At the moment there are current treatments available like intacs and cxl. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hearing Impaired. There's also more work involved in prescribing these lenses. Keratoconus is a disease of eyes in which the patient has the vision loss. In essence, your earnings record will be "frozen" before your disability began, which is why this is called a "disability freeze." You cannot paste images directly. The procedure takes about 15 minutes. Can I Continue Working After Vision Loss? We want to keep the focus on VA Claims, and this helps us do that. This causes their vision to be much more distorted than just normal blur. Pachymetry. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. However, excessive use of electronic devices with digital displays can sometimes cause dry eyes. For people who lose their sight later in life, the costs of blindness include not only adaptive expenses like those mentioned above, but also astronomical medical bills. Astigmatism is more like a warp or bend in the surface of the cornea in a specific location. In time, these changes transform the cornea into a cone-like shape, lending this disease a portion of its name. If you could show that no other family members (if you aren't adopted) don't have the same issue, or better yet, a DNA analysis, to bolster it, that would be iron clad. This means that you worked long enough - and recently enough - and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. Keratoconus usually is detected in the teenage years or 20's, but it can also start in childhood. If you're under 55, Social Security is likely to decide you have the ability to do some other type of work that doesn't require you to drive. Does a person with severe keratoconus qualify to receive disability? During this time, your disability benefits are not in jeopardy. If you apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) however, you must do so through an interview process with an SSA representative and this is usually done at the local office. Crosslinking can stop the progre Corneal disorder in which the cornea is abnormally thin and progressively becomes distorted. You can also file a claim over the phone by contacting Social Security at 800-772-1213, but be prepared for long wait times. I'm 30% SC for an eye condition called Keratoconus. In some states, legally blind applicants receive a higher state supplement to their SSI payment than nonblind disabled people. Sudden worsening or clouding of vision. !! In some cases, keratoconus is diagnosed at a later age, but usually only when it is mild. We are vaccinating all eligible patients. [3] [5] Usually both eyes are affected. The change in corneal shape prevents this focusing action. How can I check the status of my Social Security disability application? The examiner might call you for an interview or send you additional paperwork to complete. To apply in person, simply call the SSA toll free at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment at your nearest branch. The disease affects the cornea, the part of the eye that focuses light, causing it to bulge out into a cone shape. This is the exam you get when you get a new prescription for glasses or contacts. A disability examiner (I am a former examiner) would look at the case in two ways. This gives members a starting point to ask clarifying questions like. Sometimes the structure isn't strong enough to hold its round shape and it bulges outward, like a cone. Disability benefits can provide financial support and access to occupational rehabilitation, in which workers are trained for new professions. Most people have never heard of keratoconus, but it occurs in about 1 of every 2,000 people. I had a corneal transplant in 2001 because of the disease and my corneal surgeon recently told me that the drastic change in my vision during my time in the military should have been easily diagnosed as . In other words, keratoconus itself is not a disability, but vision loss caused by keratoconus may be severe enough to qualify as a disability. Your link has been automatically embedded. Note that if you have one eye with vision worse than 20/200 and one eye with better vision than 20/200 (with glasses or contacts), you won't qualify under this listing (more on this below). How Can I Prevent My Keratoconus From Getting Worse? If you return to work and you dont earn more than the SGA, you will continue receiving your disability benefits. For some folks with this diagnosis, it's possible to continue to function well with the use of glasses or contact lenses. If you're partially blind, legally blind, or totally blind, you may be able to qualify for Social Security disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Corneal transplants are often performed on an outpatient basis and take about an hour to complete. So2Clear Corneal Scleral lens - $400. Keep reading for some treatment options to consider if you have keratoconus! A computerized image is taken that creates a map of the curve of the cornea. As a result the vision gets blurred. Top answers from doctors based on your search: Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Central visual acuity is how clearly you can see straight ahead. Keratoconus is characterized by the thinning of the cornea and irregularities of the corneas surface. A need for frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions. What Is Considered A Severe Disability? 6042 Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa, wet or dry macular . To complete the disability application, you'll need detailed information, including the contact information and dates of treatment for all of your medical providers, the dates of any medical tests, and the names, addresses, and dates of employment for all of your employers in the last 15 years. If not, the agency will then consider your RFC, age, education, and prior work experience to determine if you could do some other type of work. Non-blind disabled workers can earn up to $1,470 per month. This is especially important to realize if you are unable to work due to legal blindness for at least 12 months. If you do not plan to stop working, this site cannot assist you because you will not qualify for the program. The agency calls these rules "listings. Signs and symptoms of keratoconus may change as the disease progresses. How can I get help? To apply by phone and paper: phone Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) to start an application. I would definitely accept such a case. 104. You can apply for Social Security disability in person at your local SSA office (after the COVID-19 pandemic ends), by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213, or online at www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability. There is no known prevention for keratoconus. Having a misshapen cornea can cause blurry vision and is most common among people aged 10 to 25. Some says that it is not ratable. Use our disability calculator to see how much you could be able to earn in disability benefits. The Veterans Crisis Line can help even if youre not enrolled in VA benefits or health care. Keratoconus is an inherited eye condition that affects the cornea. For the details, see our article on getting disability for peripheral vision problems. National Keratoconus Foundation A new treatment called corneal crosslinking is being investig Crosslinking is the only procedure that stops the progression of keratoconus. Generally speaking however, accommodation needs of employees with keratoconus are likely to be similar to those of employees with other conditions resulting in low vision and photosensitivity. Most claims are approved within five months, although if it's clear that your vision loss is severe you could be approved faster. Parents who have children that are seriously ill can apply for SSI benefits on behalf of their child. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. The same goes for long-term disability insurance. However there are many posts through SSC CGL which includes Inspector, clerk administrator on the lower level etc and each one of them have different eligibility criteria. While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. 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