[Expert assessment of blindness]

The determination of blindness is a secondary aspect usually performed by ophthalmologists at the request of visually impaired patients during medical treatment. It is essential to understand that proving blindness requires an examination conducted under expert conditions; it cannot be based solely on records gathered during a routine doctor-patient consultation. Important are a visual acuity test according to DIN 58220 and manual kinetic perimetry using a Goldmann perimeter or other approved devices. Functional deficits must be morphologically explainable and objectively verifiable based on the diagnosis and other objective examination findings. Due to the potentially high costs associated with blindness and in claims from social law, stringent standards must be applied to its determination; blindness must be established with near certainty.