Classification for Athletes with a Vision Impairment
Athletes with a vision impairment compete in Paralympic sports such as Alpine Skiing, Athletics, Cycling, Equestrian, Goalball, Rowing, Sailing, Swimming and Triathlon.
Athletes must specify a sport when they are seeking classification. The testing procedure is standard across all Paralympic sports, however the classes are sports specific.
Who is eligible?
Athletes have a diagnosis of at least one of the following:
• impairment of the eye structure;
• impairment of the optic nerve or pathways;
• impairment of the visual cortex of the brain.
Athletes are classified according their level of corrected vision and must have an impairment in BOTH eyes that meet the minimal disability criteria of:
• visual acuity that is less than or equal to LogMAR = 1.00 (6/60) and/or
• visual field that is less than a radius of 20 degrees
Athletes will be required to provide medical documentation from their ophthalmologist prior to seeking a classification.
What are the classes?
For further information on VI classes, athletes should refer to the below fact sheet “Vision Impairment Classification” or the relevant individual sport pages.
How do I get a classification?
Request a classification using the Get classified form or phone the APC on 02 9704 0500. For further information about the VI Classification Process, refer to the below fact sheet “Vision Impairment Classification”.
Athletes will have their classification outcomes recorded on the masterlist for the sport they were classified for. Please refer to the individual sport pages for further information.
Vision Impaired Classification Resources
– Vision Impairment Classification Fact Sheet
– VI Provisional Classification Form
– VI Medical Screening Form (required to be completed by an ophthalmologist prior to attending a face to face National Classification assessment)
– VI National Classification Form