Which visual impairment is defined as having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye after correction?

The term that defines having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye after correction is known as legal blindness. This classification is significant because it establishes a standard for eligibility for various services and benefits offered to individuals with severe visual impairments. Legal blindness can still allow for some vision; hence individuals may have limited but usable vision under certain circumstances.

Partially sighted refers to individuals who have visual acuity worse than normal vision (typically defined as better than 20/40) but who may still have some usable vision. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, describes a refractive error where distant objects are seen more clearly than near objects, but it does not specifically relate to the standard of visual acuity defining legal blindness. Diplopia, or double vision, involves seeing two images of a single object and pertains more to a functional disturbance rather than a specific measurement of acuity.

Understanding these definitions helps differentiate the severity and types of visual impairments, which is crucial for proper diagnosis, treatment, and support services.