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To evaluate the possible correlation between quality of life (QOL) characteristics and grades of legal visual impairment.Quality of life characteristics associated with various causes of visual loss were investigated in 237 Japanese patients in the low-vision care clinic at Tokyo University Hospital, who had been issued the official ID and handbook for the physically handicapped. The main causes of vision loss were glaucoma (87 patients), macular degeneration (35) and diabetic retinopathy (34). Using a previously developed questionnaire, we assessed the correlation between the disability index (DI) as a quality of life characteristic, and the grade of legal visual impairment.Total DI was 1.24 +/- 0.43, showing a very significant correlation with Handicapped Handbook grades (r = -0.44, p.0001). The correlation coefficients were -0.63 (p0.0001) for diabetic retinopathy, -0.50 (p = 0.002) for macular degeneration, and -0.16 (p = 0.14) for glaucoma patients.The needs of low-vision patients correlate with the grade of legal visual impairment and it is important to understand that the needs of low vision patients differ for each disease.