Strategies to improve the reporting of legal blindness in Massachusetts

Objectives. Registration practices were evaluated as the initial phase of a validation study of the Register of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. Methods. Massachusetts eye care providers were surveyed to determine factors associated with nonreporting of legal blindness to the commission. Results. Among ophthalmologists, factors associated with nonreporting were small practice size and practicing for 5 years or less in Massachusetts. Among optometrists, factors included small practice size and unawareness of the Massachusetts reporting law. Conclusions. Information should be disseminated to eye care providers, legally blind patients, and the public to ensure registration and sustain it.