Listing code
102.03
Children (Part B)
Body system
102.00
Special senses and speech (children)
Subsections
3
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Contraction of the visual field in the better eye, with:
Subsection A
The widest diameter subtending an angle around the point of fixation no greater than 20 degrees. OR
Subsection B
An MD of 22 decibels or greater, determined by automated static threshold perimetry that measures the central 30 degrees of the visual field (see 102.00A6d ). OR
Subsection C
A visual field efficiency of 20 percent or less, determined by kinetic perimetry (see 102.00A7c ).
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 102.03. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 102.03 usually fail
One pitfall is using the wrong eye, because the criteria require the visual field results in the better eye. Another pitfall is relying on a visual acuity result when the listing requires a contracted visual field measurement in the better eye. A third pitfall is mixing up the type of perimetry, since Subsection B requires automated static threshold perimetry of the central 30 degrees, while Subsection C requires kinetic perimetry. A fourth pitfall is missing the numeric cutoffs, such as having a visual field extent larger than 20 degrees, an MD below 22 decibels, or a visual field efficiency above 20 percent.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Strong documentation is test results showing the contracted visual field in the better eye and matching the exact threshold used by the criteria. Subsection A looks for the widest diameter subtending an angle around the point of fixation no greater than 20 degrees. Subsection B requires automated static threshold perimetry that measures the central 30 degrees of the visual field and shows an MD of 22 decibels or greater. Subsection C requires kinetic perimetry and shows a visual field efficiency of 20 percent or less. Tests should be performed in a way that produces these specific outputs, not just a qualitative description of field loss.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the child does not meet 102.03A, 102.03B, or 102.03C, SSA still considers other statutory-blindness criteria for visual disorders. The statutory-blindness standard for this body system can be met through other visual-field listings (such as 102.02A, 102.02B, 102.03A) or through the related criteria for statutory blindness that are not based on the exact 102.03A/B/C measurements. The outcome may also hinge on whether the overall medical findings medically equal the criteria, but that decision depends on the specific evidence of visual field limitations and how closely they match the listed thresholds.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI, work activity during the claim period is evaluated under SGA rules before a case can be decided on disability. For children, the same medical criteria are used to decide whether the visual disorder meets the statutory-blindness standard, including that the contraction is measured in the better eye and matches 102.03A, 102.03B, or 102.03C. After approval, ongoing eligibility is handled through SSA's standard continuing-eligibility rules for children, which use the established medical basis for disability. The criteria here focus on measurable visual field contraction, such as the 20-degree widest diameter (102.03A) or central-30-degree perimetry results (102.03B or 102.03C).
Listing 102.03 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for contraction of the visual field in the better eye, with disability claims.