Keratoconus is not always a disability, but it could be considered one. Read on to find out which scenarios would make this condition a disability.
If you or someone you care about has keratoconus, you may have questions about how this eye condition impacts daily life and whether it qualifies as a disability. At our practice, our eye doctors want you to feel empowered with clear answers, practical information, and guidance on the resources available to you. This page explains how keratoconus fits into the definition of disability, what the law and research say about its effects, and what steps you can take if vision loss from keratoconus is making life difficult.
There are many effective medical interventions today to improve visual deficits of people with keratoconus. These include:
Whether keratoconus is recognized as a disability depends on how severely it limits your vision and, in turn, your ability to function in daily life. The definition of disability varies across different laws and programs, but there are some common standards.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that “substantially limits one or more major life activities.” Seeing is specifically named as a major life activity. If keratoconus causes vision loss that significantly limits your ability to read, drive, work, or perform other essential activities, even with the best available correction, it can be considered a disability.
However, the degree of impact matters:
A key benchmark for vision disability is “legal blindness,” which is often used for government benefit programs and legal protections. You are considered legally blind if, in your better-seeing eye with the best possible correction:
Many people with keratoconus do not reach this level of vision loss, especially if they have access to treatments like rigid gas-permeable contact lenses or corneal cross-linking. Most patients experience distorted rather than completely lost vision, and total blindness from keratoconus is rare. However, in advanced cases, especially with corneal scarring or extreme irregularity, your best-corrected vision might fall below the legal blindness threshold.
It’s important to understand that you do not need to be fully blind for keratoconus to be disabling. If, despite treatment, your vision makes it impossible to perform routine tasks at work or home, you may still qualify for disability status or accommodations. Each patient’s case is unique, and evaluations are done on an individual basis.
If you are struggling to work or function due to keratoconus, you may wonder about your eligibility for disability benefits. Here’s how keratoconus fits into major U.S. disability programs:
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not specifically list keratoconus in its “Blue Book” of impairments. Instead, it evaluates vision disorders under listings for loss of central visual acuity, reduction of visual fields, or decreased visual efficiency.
To automatically qualify, you must meet strict standards:
Because of modern treatments, many keratoconus patients do not meet these automatic criteria. However, you may still qualify for benefits if you can show that your keratoconus symptoms, such as persistent blurry or unstable vision, glare, or inability to focus, prevent you from doing your past work or any other reasonable job. This is called a medical-vocational allowance and is the path most people with keratoconus take when seeking benefits.
For a successful claim, you’ll need:
If your initial claim is denied, don’t lose hope, many applicants are successful on appeal by providing additional medical evidence.
If you are a veteran and your keratoconus began or worsened during your service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. The VA rates keratoconus under Diagnostic Code 6035, and assigns a percentage rating (10%, 20%, 40%, or up to 60%) based on how much your vision is impaired and what treatments you require.
To file a claim, submit your eye exam records and service health documents. The VA may also schedule an eye exam to assess your corrected and uncorrected vision. Working with a veterans service officer (VSO) can help you navigate the process.
Even if you do not qualify for government disability payments, you still have rights at work and school. Under the ADA, employers with 15 or more employees are required to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified workers with disabilities, so long as it doesn’t cause significant hardship for the business.
For keratoconus, accommodations might include:
If you have keratoconus and your vision is affecting your life, there are many forms of support beyond government disability benefits.
Low vision specialists can help you maximize your remaining vision with:
Many states have agencies for the blind and visually impaired that offer services including:
You do not need to be totally blind to qualify for many of these services. Meeting a certain “low vision” threshold is often enough.
If you’re employed or in school, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free resource that helps both employees and employers identify practical solutions for visual disabilities. Most accommodations for vision impairment are low cost and can make a big difference in comfort and productivity.
Examples include:
Organizations such as the National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF) provide patient education, advocacy, and support. Connecting with others who have keratoconus can offer practical tips, emotional support, and a sense of community.
Keratoconus is a progressive disease that causes your cornea, the clear, dome-shaped front of your eye, to thin and bulge outward into a cone-like shape. This distortion of the cornea leads to a variety of visual problems, many of which worsen over time.
People with keratoconus often experience:
Medical research and patient experiences show that keratoconus can affect your quality of life in ways that go beyond vision. For example, a 2024 study published in the journal Eye found that patients commonly struggle in areas such as:
Your eye doctors are experienced in diagnosing, treating, and supporting patients with keratoconus at every stage. They work closely with you to:
Keratoconus is an ocular disease that results in corneal alteration and impaired eyesight. Symptoms include sensitivity to glare and light, and blurred vision. Speak with your optometrist to find out if your visual deficits qualify as a disability, and whether the available corrective measures can help you attain better vision.
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