Does Glaucoma Qualify for Disability Benefits in Canada?
Glaucoma is an eye condition that affects the optic nerve, which is critical to your vision. The damage to the optic nerve is characterized by abnormally high pressure in the eye, which can result from poor blood flow or the anatomy of your eye.
The most common forms of glaucoma have virtually no warning signs or symptoms. The deterioration of your eye’s health, caused by glaucoma, is slow, with no noticeable change in vision until the glaucoma is in its later stages. At the most severe or aggressive stages of glaucoma, long-term vision loss is a serious risk. Complete blindness is a possibility within a few years of the elementary stages of glaucoma.
Unfortunately, vision lost due to glaucoma is irreversible.
Open-Angle Glaucoma and Acute-Angle Closure Glaucoma
There are many variations of glaucoma, but the two most common forms are open-angle glaucoma and acute-angle closure glaucoma.
Open-Angle Glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of the disease, occurs when the drainage angle in the eye is open, but the trabecular meshwork is partly blocked. The inability of the drainage angle, formed by the cornea and iris, to remove excess fluid causes the pressure in the eye to increase. This pressure is impairs the optic nerve.
Vision loss from glaucoma is so slow and gradual; many people lose vision before they realize they have the disease.
Angle-closure Glaucoma
This form of glaucoma is similar to open-angle glaucoma in that it’s the consequence of a blocked drainage angle. How the drainage becomes blocked is what distinguishes this type of glaucoma.
Angle-closure manifests when the iris is protruding forward, narrowing, or again partially blocking, the drainage angle at the cornea and iris. Fluid can’t circulate through the eye, resulting in building pressure.
The anatomy of your eye can play a role in how susceptible you are to glaucoma; some people naturally have narrower drainage angles, putting them at higher risk of angle-closure glaucoma.
The disease can come up suddenly, which is known as acute angle-closure glaucoma, or gradually, known as chronic angle-closure glaucoma.
Regular eye exams are crucial in preventing glaucoma. Recognizing it early can allow a person to seek the best treatments, and slow the loss of vision, or even prevent vision loss all together.
When someone is diagnosed with glaucoma, it’s likely they’ll need treatment for the rest of their life. When left untreated, glaucoma will eventually cause blindness.
For people already affected by the disease, it then becomes imperative to consistently schedule treatments for their glaucoma, at the risk of permanent vision loss. These appointments and treatments can accrue significant expenses, depending on the severity of your condition.
If you have a form of glaucoma, you can qualify for disability benefits through the Canadian government to offset your treatment expenses. Glaucoma falls under one of the conditions that qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit.
The NBA has an in-house team of specialists who specialize in recovering funds for differently-abled Canadians. We work within the Disability Tax Credit requirements, having filed thousands of Disability Tax Credit applications successfully. Disability Tax Credit refunds can be claimed for up to $50,000 per application!
Your vision is priceless and irreplaceable and keeping your glaucoma in check with regular treatments is vital. Ensure you’re able to do so by letting us help you recover the disability tax credits you’re entitled to.
Call us today at 1-888-389-0080 for a consultation. For more information on the DTC, visit our information page.
Click here for our easy-to-use Disability Tax Credit calculator.
