FAQs

To help you quickly find the information you’re looking for, we’ve created a list of questions that people most often ask PAB. If your question isn’t here, contact us and we’ll be sure to answer it!

• Who is considered legally blind?
• What is low vision and how do I know if I have low vision?
• How and where can I get services for myself, a parent, or for a friend?
• Where can I get an eye exam or glasses for myself, a parent or for a friend?
• Where can I get information about obtaining products for independent living; talking watches, clocks, CCTV?
• Where can I find information on Disability Benefits?
• Where can I find audio tapes, or books and magazines in large print or Braille?
• Where can I find information for a Guide Dog?

Who is considered legally blind?

Legal blindness refers to clinically measured visual acuity of 20/200 in the better eye with best correction, or visual field of 20 degrees or less. An individual with one eye correctable to better than 20/200 and a visual field of better than 20 degrees is not considered legally blind.

What is low vision and how do I know if I have low vision?

Low vision means that even with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, people find everyday tasks difficult to do. For example, reading the mail, shopping, cooking, seeing the TV, and writing can seem challenging.

If you have difficulty recognizing faces of friends and family, doing things that require up close vision, like reading or cooking, picking out matching clothes, doing things at work or home because lights seem dimmer, reading street or bus signs, this could mean you have low vision, or an early stage of an eye disease. If you are experiencing any of these signs see your eye care professional as soon as possible for an eye exam.

How and where can I get services for myself, a parent, or for a friend?

Services are provided by Pennsylvania Association for the Blind’s Network of 26 Member Agencies. Start getting help today by contacting your local blind agency.

Where can I get an eye exam or glasses for myself, a parent or for a friend?

• American Academy of Ophthalmology | EyeCare America 
• American Optometric Association
• National Eye Institute (NEI)
  
• OneSight
  
• Sight for Students

Where can I get information about obtaining products for independent living; talking watches, clocks, CCTV?

There are several resources available to obtain these products; You can contact your local blind agency; You can contact the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services; You can contact your local Lions Club; If you are a Veteran, you can contact your local VA.

Where can I find information on Disability Benefits?

You can contact your local Social Security Office or by contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare.

Where can I find audio tapes, or books and magazines in large print or Braille?

There are two libraries in Pennsylvania that provide these resources, Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the Free Library of Philadelphia for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped serves eligible residents in the following counties:

All other counties in Pennsylvania are served by the Free Library of Philadelphia for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Where can I find information for a Guide Dog?

• The Seeing Eye
• Guide Dogs for the Blind
• Guiding Eyes for the Blind
• Guide Dogs of America
• Eye Dog Foundation for the Blind