How is the Low Vision state defined relative to legal blindness?

Severe vision loss not fully correctable, yet below the legal blindness threshold.

Low vision occupies a specific place on the continuum of severe vision loss, sitting just below the established threshold for legal blindness. It signifies a severe impairment that cannot be fully remedied by standard corrective measures such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery. Individuals in this state struggle substantially with daily tasks requiring clear sight, like recognizing faces or reading small print. They often exist in a functional gap: they may retain enough sight to be excluded from certain disability benefits, yet lack the functional capacity for comfortable or safe completion of routine visual activities. This means their acuity is technically better than the 20/200 legal standard, but their vision remains significantly impaired.