Vision Classification

Classification for athletes with a vision impairment

Athletes with a vision impairment compete in blind football, goalball, Para-alpine skiing, Para-archery, Para-athletics, Para-biathlon, Para-cycling, Para-equestrian, Para-judo, Para-rowing, Para-shooting, Para-swimming, Para-taekwondo and Para-triathlon.

Athletes must specify a sport when they are seeking classification. While the testing procedure is standard across all Paralympic sports, the classes are sport-specific.

Who is eligible to compete at the Paralympic Games?

To be eligible to compete at the Paralympic Games, athletes must have at least one of the following diagnoses:

Impairment of the eye structure
Impairment of the optic nerve or pathways
Impairment of the visual cortex of the brain.

Athletes are classified according to their level of corrected vision and must have an impairment in both eyes that meets the minimal disability criteria of visual acuity that is less than or equal to LogMAR = 1.00 (6/60) and/or a visual field that is less than a radius of 40 degrees.

Athletes are required to provide medical documentation from their ophthalmologist prior to seeking a classification.

What are the classes?

For information on classes for athletes with a vision impairment, please refer to the Classification Information Sheet for Athletes with a Vision Impairment or one of the sport pages linked above.

How do I get classified?

Athletes can request a classification or by contacting Paralympics Australia.

Classification Master List

Athletes will have their classification outcomes recorded on the Master List for their sport. Please refer to the sport pages linked above for more information.

Resources