Listing code
102.02
Children (Part B)
Body system
102.00
Special senses and speech (children)
Subsections
2
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Loss of central visual acuity.
Subsection A
Remaining vision in the better eye after best correction is 20/200 or less. OR
Subsection B
An inability to participate in visual acuity testing using Snellen methodology or other comparable testing, clinical findings that fixation and visual-following behavior are absent in the better eye, and one of the following: 1. Abnormal anatomical findings indicating a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye (such as the presence of Stage III or worse retinopathy of prematurity despite surgery, hypoplasia of the optic nerve, albinism with macular aplasia, or bilateral optic atrophy); or 2. Abnormal neuroimaging documenting damage to the cerebral cortex which would be expected to prevent the development of a visual acuity better than 20/200 in the better eye (such as neuroimaging showing bilateral encephalomyelitis or bilateral encephalomalacia); or 3. Abnormal electroretinogram documenting the presence of Leber's congenital amaurosis or achromatopsia in the better eye; or 4. An absent response to VER testing in the better eye.
- Abnormal anatomical findings indicating a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye (such as the presence of Stage III or worse retinopathy of prematurity despite surgery, hypoplasia of the optic nerve, albinism with macular aplasia, or bilateral optic atrophy); or
- Abnormal neuroimaging documenting damage to the cerebral cortex which would be expected to prevent the development of a visual acuity better than 20/200 in the better eye (such as neuroimaging showing bilateral encephalomyelitis or bilateral encephalomalacia); or
- Abnormal electroretinogram documenting the presence of Leber's congenital amaurosis or achromatopsia in the better eye; or
- An absent response to VER testing in the better eye.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 102.02. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 102.02 usually fail
Many claims fail because testing results are not for the better eye after best correction. Other claims miss because the record does not show an inability to participate in Snellen (or comparable) visual acuity testing, and the required behavioral finding that fixation and visual-following behavior are absent in the better eye (102.02B). Another failure mode is including an imaging or test result that is not one of the specifically listed categories in 102.02B, such as neuroimaging findings of damage to the cerebral cortex (bilateral encephalomyelitis or bilateral encephalomalacia), or an electroretinogram showing Leber's congenital amaurosis or achromatopsia, or an absent response to VER testing in the better eye. A further pitfall is relying on abnormal anatomical findings but not linking them to the 20/200-or-less vision level in the better eye using the listed examples (such as hypoplasia of the optic nerve, albinism with macular aplasia, or bilateral optic atrophy).
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
The strongest evidence for 102.02A is documentation of remaining central visual acuity in the better eye after best correction, showing 20/200 or less. For 102.02B, documentation needs all of these: (1) inability to participate in visual acuity testing using Snellen methodology or other comparable testing, (2) clinical findings that fixation and visual-following behavior are absent in the better eye, and then (3) one of the listed objective supports in the better eye, such as abnormal anatomical findings indicating 20/200 or less in the better eye (examples include Stage III or worse retinopathy of prematurity despite surgery, hypoplasia of the optic nerve, albinism with macular aplasia, or bilateral optic atrophy), or abnormal neuroimaging showing damage to the cerebral cortex expected to prevent development of vision better than 20/200 in the better eye (examples include bilateral encephalomyelitis or bilateral encephalomalacia), or abnormal electroretinogram showing Leber's congenital amaurosis or achromatopsia in the better eye, or an absent response to VER testing in the better
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the child does not meet 102.02A or 102.02B as written, the next step is whether the medical findings are close enough to be medically equal to the listing criteria. If the claim is still not approved at that step, SSA generally moves on to the child functional rules by considering the child's overall limitations rather than the vision cutoff alone.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI or SSI child decisions under this listings track, eligibility turns on whether the child's better-eye central visual acuity is 20/200 or less with best correction (102.02A) or whether the testing can't be completed and the required behavioral and objective findings are present (102.02B). If the condition meets 102.02A or 102.02B, the listing provides the needed pathway for the blindness definition built around central visual acuity in the better eye. If the listing is not met, SSA uses the medical-equality step before relying on broader functional assessment rather than the central-visual-acuity numbers alone.
Listing 102.02 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for loss of central visual acuity disability claims.