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GARP Chapter 8: Eyes and Vision, Explained Simply

Vision is measured with your glasses on, so glasses alone score nothing. But double vision, dry eye and cataract surgery all count.

Veterans Health Centre · 7 September 2026 · 5 min read

Chapter 8 covers the eyes.

It splits in two. Part 8.1 is for anything that affects how well you see. Part 8.2 is for eye conditions that are uncomfortable or annoying but do not really affect your sight.

The key rule: it is measured with your glasses on

Vision is always rated as corrected vision — wearing your glasses or contacts.

You get no extra rating for needing glasses. If your glasses fix it, the score is nil.

Three things are measured

Sharpness — the letter chart. 6/6 is normal, and it scales down through 6/9, 6/12, 6/18 and so on to 3/60 and blind.
Visual field — how much you can see out to the sides. Measured with a proper field test and counted on a grid.
Miscellaneous — double vision, gaze problems, cataract, glaucoma without field loss, artificial lenses.

How they come together

Each eye is scored on all three, and those three are joined for that eye. Then the two eyes are put into a single table, and out comes one number for your vision.

That final table is weighted heavily. If your good eye is still good, the number stays low even when the other eye is poor. If both eyes are affected, the number climbs fast.

Double vision is worth more than people think

The miscellaneous table has a long list, and double vision (diplopia) sits high on it. Double vision in all directions of gaze scores 25 on its own. Double vision looking down — the direction you use for stairs and reading — scores more than double vision looking up.

Loss of depth perception, artificial lenses after cataract surgery, and gaze problems all score too.

Counting fingers means blind

A specific rule worth knowing. If an eye can only count fingers, or only tell light from dark, that eye is treated as blind for the tables. You do not have to have no perception at all.

One eye only

If service damaged only one eye, the paired organs rule in Chapter 21 can apply. Your one-eye score gets doubled, and compared with what the loss of both would be worth. You take the lesser of the two. In practice this usually lifts the number.

The Guide's own worked example: 20 points for one eye becomes 35 after the rule is applied. Ask whether it has been used.

Part 8.2: the annoying stuff

These score smaller, but they still count:

occasional conjunctivitis — nil
at least six separate episodes a year — 2
constant mild irritation, chronic conjunctivitis, light sensitivity, watering — 5
dry eyes needing drops every day — 5

Dry eye needing daily drops is very common after service and is regularly left off claims.

You cannot take a Part 8.2 rating and a Part 8.1 rating for the same condition. You take the higher.

What this means for you

Get a proper optometry or ophthalmology report, with corrected acuity for each eye written down.
Ask for a visual field test if you have glaucoma or any field loss.
Mention double vision and which direction it happens in.
Do not skip dry eye if you use drops daily.
Ask about the paired organs rule if only one eye is affected.

Common questions

My glasses fix my sight. Is there any rating?

Not under Part 8.1. But check Part 8.2 — irritation, dryness and light sensitivity are rated there.

I had cataract surgery and see fine now. Anything?

Yes. Having an artificial lens in place scores on the miscellaneous table, even with good vision.

Is glaucoma rated even without vision loss?

Yes, at a low level. Once there is field loss, it is rated on the field measurement instead.

Next in this series

Chapter 9: kidneys and bladder.

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