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December 18, 2024
Question

I had a stroke in my left eye loss 3/4 of my slight, can I get a tax break on it I can see out of one eye my right

  • December 18, 2024
  • 2 replies
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    2 replies

    DoninGA
    Employee
    December 18, 2024

    IRS Publication 501 page 23 - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf#page=23

     

    Higher Standard Deduction for Blindness
    If you are blind on the last day of the year and you don't itemize deductions, you are entitled to
    a higher standard deduction.

     

    Not totally blind. If you aren't totally blind, you must get a certified statement from an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) stating that:
    1. You can't see better than 20/200 in the better eye with glasses or contact lenses,
    or
    2. Your field of vision is 20 degrees or less.
    If your eye condition isn't likely to improve beyond these limits, the statement should include this fact. Keep the statement in your records.
    If your vision can be corrected beyond these limits only by contact lenses that you can wear only briefly because of pain, infection, or ulcers, you can take the higher standard deduction for blindness if you otherwise qualify.

    Employee
    December 18, 2024

    It seems that having one good eye does not allow you to be counted as "blind" for IRS purposes, even though it is surely inconvenient and a real medical issue. 

     

    Of course, any expenses to treat the condition would be deductible medical expenses, if you claim itemized deductions for medical expenses.