B1, B2, and B3 describe functional vision, not medical diagnoses. Understanding these categories helps ensure that support and services are accurate, effective, and tailored to individual needs.
- B1: Total blindness
- B2: Severe visual impairment
- B3: Low vision
Low vision exists on a spectrum. Some individuals navigate daily life independently, while others rely on magnifiers, assistive technology, or a white cane in certain situations. Even people with the same eye condition may fall into different functional categories.
Misclassifying B2 and B3 as B1, or assuming all low vision is “almost sighted,” can lead to inappropriate support. Effective assistance should always be needs-based, personalized, and grounded in real functional abilities, not assumptions.
