UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Dear All,

Firstly thanks to everyone that has supported me during the last three months and for posting interesting topics which have helped me get things in place for my return to work.

I only did half a day today, but full day Friday and then the next week is 3 half days with 2 full days in the middle. My employer and I are building this up by an extra full day per week until I am working full time, but my duties will not be full time.

Day 1;
HR stuff to hand in note from GP & specialist saying I can return to work and confirm managed return to work plan with HR, supervisor and occupational health nurse.

Cleared desk of three months of junk mail.
Carry out personal VDU assesment; despite having an anti-glare screen over my monitor, I had to lower the brightness to about 50% and contrast to 35%. Increased monitor refresh rate as I could see the screen flicker. Requested a new slimline 19 inch monitor ready for the days when my lenses are uncomfortable which will be more likely towards the end of the week. This means that if I need to up the size of everything, I am not having to scroll everywhere to see the information. Noted also that the lights were too bright despite being correctly located; have tinted glasses coming from my optician made just for my requierments (will see how this goes before investigating Access to Work).
Go through 3 months of e-mails deleting all that are irrelevent and bookmarked those which need attention.
Review training records to see what re-training if any is needed (lots since recent government audits).
Received up date on departmental changes from supervisor and presented her with the 'Supporting Students' guide from this site!

Now at home after sitting in the gloom as I was starting to get a headache from the brightness of everything. Never thought I would be glad to come home on such a gloomey day.

As things progress with my return to work, I will post more of what worked and what did not so it may help others.

Gareth

Glad to hear it went ok on your first day back.

Best wishes

Susan

At the start of the second week and my new tinted glasses help with the artificial light in the office and my significantly darkend monitor has not needed to be changed while I am wearing them

Unfortunatly HR have informed me that I am not allowed to be sick for 12 months

Will investigate this as if I can not wear any lenses, I can not drive to work so I will see how I might be coverd under the disabilities act. RNIB and citizens advice here I come.

And I thought I worked for a caring company

Just contacted the Disability Employment Advisor at my local Job Centre who said my employer must make reasonable adjustment to accomodate my disability, but it is open to interpretation as to what is a disability. Therefore as I have to go to hospital for sight tests and contact lens checks, my employer MUST accomodate this without penalties. I have also been advised to raise the sick leave issue with occupational health as they can overall HR decisions. Example, if it is decided I am allowed 5 days for any illness, HR will have to treat me like others who have not had the same time off as me (this may requier an occupational health assesment, migh consult RNIB to). I will raise this with my occupational health advisor at work this week when I see them and will keep everyone posted.

Should it come to feeling victimised, there is the Disability Rite Commission; 0845 7622633 for advice.

We will see how it goes, but I do not plant to be sick. I will try and remain positive as my sight is good at the moment which is how I hope it will stay.

Completed 2nd week back, half day monday & tuesday, full day wednesday & thursday and half day today (Friday).

Sorted out issue of not being allowed sick for next 12 months and it is documented in my work medical records. What I got was a standard letter, but due to my circumstances, as when I need the time off, we can negotiate this. Better than nothing.

Wednesday evening felt shatered and I was glad to get the lenses out. So Thursday caused confusion as I wore one lens in the morning and bumped into a few things as I got used to where the office furniture was and did the same when I swapped lenses after lunch. Lunch was nice not having lenses in. Typical KC patient overwearing the lenses! When my collegues discovered that my glasses only had a tint, I think they were quite embaressed as they did what everyone else does and see the glasses and think your eyesight is fine! Probably because I did some intricate work with only one eye, but the instrument I was using allws me to be very flexible in screen, colour and font sizes so I could see it quite well. Plus is it black on a grey background which I find gentle on the eyes.

Been given the goahead to educate my collegues regarding KC on Tuesday, all the people I work with have been instructed to attend. Will let you know how it goes.

Going on work celebration as the project I was supposed to work on has reached its conclusion on time and on budget. See how my collegues react to me when I can not see as I have now worn the lenses for the requierd time. Should be fun

So far I feel my collegues are unsure how to approach me, perhaps a little embaressed. I have been very open about KC and its effects and I think they are worried about upsetting me. Who knows. Time for lenses out and time for a foggy night on the town

Gareth

Good luck Gareth, at your back at work, hope you enjoyed the night on the town !

Hi Gareth,
Your diary of your return to work is inspiring - congratulations! Have a great night out. Just remember that if you need an arm to hang on to, to pick one that isn't too drunk. Xmas lights are fab without lenses!!!
Good luck
Janet

Thanks all,

Night out went well, I think the waitress was a bit embaressed when I asked her to read the specials board. She pointed to it and I quietly said 'I am partially sighted, I could walk up to it, but then no-one elso would see it, pretend I've had too much to drink!' She was fine after that.

I think people are overcompensating in being nice as I have beeen so open. I can read a menu, as it was larger print than normal for a menu on a sandy background (good for me) even if my nose is about 3 inches away. To peoples surprise I could find my food with no problem and not having to bury my face in it to see it!

Gave my collegues a presentation on KC and what I have arranged at work to help me. (See another post where I have posted pics of my lenses and stuff). With these, I am started to get used to using computers and my eyes are not so tierd. Looking forward to the large monitor as one program I use (the main one) can not have personal preferances set, you have to change the screen resolution and then most of the information disappears. Watch this space.

I have sent the presentation I gave to the support group, but I have made some slight changes to the order of slides so that it is not so much information overload. The occupational health nurse at work has made some suggestions to make it more user friendly to non-scientific people so it might become available to others who want to educate their collegues in a 5 minute presentation, or if you do the whole lot, it is nearer 20 minutes!

Thursday 2nd December, we see if the specialist is as upbeat as me. He is easily impressed, I am going to send him a magazine which has my car in it for Christmas; it is Classic Ford Magazine out on Friday 17 December. He is a great fan of the early Ford Capri's. Finding a common interest with the specialist really helps the consultations go quicker and it takes your mind off what they are doing.

Regards

Gareth