OBJECTIVES:  The primary aim of this study was to describe direct and indirect costs associated with legal blindness caused by retinal disorders from the Brazilian society perspective. METHODS: Cross-sectional, observational and multicenter study enrolling patients with legal blindness (visual acuity<20/200) caused by retinal disorders. Data collection occurred between December/2012 and December/2014. During a face-to-face structured interview, patients answered questions about demographics, professional activities, disease characteristics, health resource utilization (frequency of consultations, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, procedures, tests and therapies) and use of non-medical resources (home lay caregivers, nursing homes, home adaptations, support equipment) for a recall period of 1 year. Productivity losses were measured using the human capital method and a monetary value was determined based on self-reported income relative to the time they were absent from paid work. Local currency - Brazilian Real (BRL) - was converted into American dollar values (USD) [USD1.00 = BRL 3.03; (05/July/2015)]. RESULTS: