Squint/ "lazy eye" eliable to benefits?

scottyyy

Hi, i need some information...i was born with a squint/lazy eye in my left eye, and had an operation to straighten it out when i was around 3 years old...but couldnt and still cant see out of my left eye. Im 22 now, my brain is focusing everything out of my right eye, cant see atall out of my left eye, unless i cover my right eye and get a really bad blurred vision and can just about make out what hands a clock is on (from a few centremeteres away!) I havent been to the optitions since i was 17 as he told me theres nothing they can do to fix my eye, so didnt think there was any need to go there anymore...anyways...i was just wondering if there were any benefits or anything i could claim for this? im full time employed, and been driving for 4 years, but recently told workmates about my lazy eye, they told me i could claim benefits or disibility allowence, and to tell my insurance company...are they right? as i am keen to find out.
Hope you can help
Scottyy

healy

The only Benefit you could try to get would Disability Living Allowance (DLA) but that is paid to people who have mobility or care needs and from what you have said it does not sound as though you have any so it would be highly unlikely that you would receive any benefit.

Alikay

Heck, I shouldn't think so! Your vision is clearly good enough to drive.....what on earth are you whingeing about?

I was also born with a squint, had an operation which did little except improve my "Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion" appearence and had to resign myself to no binocular vision and being !!!! at ball sports, but apart from that I've had a pretty fantastic 47 years and no problem getting jobs!

If you consider it a disability, get yourself down to Stoke Manderville or somewhere similar and see a few people with real problems.

lilac_lady

If you haven't had an eye examination for 5 years you won't have medical evidence to pursue a claim for DLA although you could fill out the form and try to get it. If your sight is so bad perhaps you shouldn't be driving. Your insurance may be invalid if you've witheld medical information from the insurance company.

scottyyy

I was only finding out info...never know untill you find out stuff do you
thanks for replying anyways

Kantankrus_Mare

I agree with Alikay.

I have exactly the same problem. My right eye is practically useless and when I have glasses.........its just to correct the short sightedness in my good eye.

I drive and lead a full life. Why shouldn't I? Ive never known any different.

Only think I wouldnt touch with a barge pole is laser surgery on my good eye.

If it went wrong then I really would be disabled.

Nice to know why Ive always been crap at ball games though :rotfl: just thought it was because I wasnt sporty.

Alleycat

Sorry to shout troll, but with one eye effectively not working, there is no way he/she would be able to pass a driving test.

loftus

Alleycat wrote: »

Sorry to shout troll, but with one eye effectively not working, there is no way he/she would be able to pass a driving test.

Rubbish.

I have lazy eye and drive as do several posters on this thread.
My uncle has had a glass eye since childhood and has driven for a living.

lilac_lady

Gordon Brown has a glass eye but he doesn't drive.

loftus

lilac_lady wrote: »

Gordon Brown has a glass eye but he doesn't drive.

Drives me mad :rotfl:

LadyMorticia

How many operations did you have?

I was born with a squint in both of my eyes but only one of them is lazy in regards to vision. I wear glasses because of this.

I had an operation on both my eyes when I was three years old and it corrected my left eye but not my right, so I had to have another operation. That operation still didn't correct the right eye and I was due to have a third operation but my mum never took me back. As a consequence I still have the squint in my right eye.

A year or so ago I was referred back to the hospital by the opticians about it and the ophthalmologist said I could either A)Have my third and final operation whilst I'm young (apparently they only like to do a max of three squint operations because every time they do one they have to do something to the muscles which could damage them etc) B)Wait until I'm a lot older and the squint is a lot worse and then have the op as this last op would be a kind of "lifeline" so to speak and the ophthalmologist suggested it might be better to wait until the eye is as bad as it can be or C)Have botox into the eye muscles to straighten my eye which would last between 3-6 months. I chose to go with the option of having the operation when I'm a lot older.

Did the optician tell you why you cannot have another op?

Do you wear glasses?

With regards to benefits, I'm not sure what you would be entitled to as DLA is for those with mobility/care needs. How does your squint affect your everyday life?

xx