UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi everyone!

First of all, can I just say that this forum is a god-send. I'm the only person I know with keratoconus and whilst my friends and family are very supportive, it's difficult for them to understand what it's like to have this condition. So, whenever I'm having a "woe-is-me" day , I visit you guys and don't feel quite so alone.

Anyway, I digress. I was diagnosed with KC about 13 years ago and i'm currently piggy backing my CL. But, hay fever is proving to be a worthy adversary to my CL comfort at the mo I'm managing to persevere with lenses in one eye but unfortunately that happens to be my worst eye sight-wise. My job entails a lot of time spent in front of a computer and my reduced vision is making it difficult to see what's on screen (I'm typing this with my nose about a foot away from the monitor!). Does anyone know if there Is any software available that can enlarge whatever I'm looking at on screen (I have to use various computer packages) or any apparatus that can be used in conjunction with my monitor to magnify the images? Also, does anyone know if my employer would be able to get any financial contribution towards the cost of such software/equipment? I'm not registered as partially-sighted so I'm presuming that they can't claim for me as a disabled employee.

Many thanks

Lis X

Hi Lis, and welcome to the forum (after a couple of years of lurking! )

Well, the answers to your queries are fairly straightforward.

The majority of PC applications are well-geared to visually-disabled users. Simply hold down the CTRL key, and scroll the mouse wheel. In Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, and most MS Office programs, the text will get larger. Sometimes, the entire document is zoomed into.

For those apps which are not so friendly, additional software is available which will selectively enlarge part of the screen, although Windows Magnifier is crude, it does a similar (if very basic) job. Also, if you have Windows Vista, it's speech input and output is pretty decent.

In terms of equipment/software support, my understanding is that it is available if you are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act - which your occupational health people should be able to confirm. For most of us with bad KC, the DDA should apply. If you are covered by the DDA, I understand that your employers will get a substantial grant towards the purchasing of such equipment/software that you find useful.

I'm not sure about Mac use (if you have one of those), but we have a number of Mac users on the forum who can help you if you need it.

Otherwise, I'm sure others will jump in and say what aids they're using.

All the best,

Sounds really daft but what size monitor are you using? All of our office have just been upgraded to a 22" wide screen monitor, and even those without visual problems are impressed at the better visual impact the larger screen has had.

I got some sample software from the KC conference earlier this year, that as yet i havent brought into work to try but do plan on doing so that magnifies the screen better than the windows version (which is atrocious for me). I use a lot of more specialist software in my role, rather than the standard windows applications and have found the magnifers etc that are standard on windows packages dont work so well on. whilst i am managing with my glasses at the moment (one pretty good eye in KC terms, one atrocious) due to dry eye/hayfever etc i really ought to bring my magnifing packages into work to trial.

My work are very supportive and if i get my backside into gear (no time at the moment) and get Action for the Blind in they will support any implementation of software/changes to work area that is required following the recommendations.

The more recent versions of Micrisoft Windows has a bui;t in magnifier that I have found works for any application you hae open on your desk top, crude but very usefull if you only require it on the odd occassion. Plus the more recent microsoft office programs have speach to text built in. You need to train it initially, but havng used it for a while I have found it very useful.

In addition to manifiers there are a few other things that might help.

I'f lens comfort is primarily due to hayfever think about anti histamines and if they don't work speak with your GP about an injection to calm the hayfever symptoms. Lubricating eye drops are used my many of us, I use Systane by Alcon and when I first started to use them I needed to put the drops in hourly but after a couple of weeks this was only in the middle of the day and after a couple of months I was down to using the drops first thing in the morning and put a drop in the lens before I put it in my eye and another drop last thing at night after removing lenses. rinking plenty of water, removing/reducing caffeine and dieretic drinks consumed helps. Eating plenty of fruit rather than fruit juices and so on all contribute to reducing dehydration which many of us feel through our eyes due to having to wear contact lenses.

Make sure you Display Screen Assessment is upto date and not just the workstation has been assessed but the programs and type of work you do included in addition to where you sit with respect to drafts and aircon units. These are legal requirements and may identify magnification software needed wich can be funded through Access To Work. RNIB and Action For The Blind can provide independent assessments.

Even a different type of contact lens may help. I could never do piggybacking due to having grafts and the restricted oxygen flow this produced and RGP's were just too irritating. Last summer my lenses were very uncomfortable and could only wear lenses to drive to work, the rest of the time it I wasn't wearing any lenses. Now I am on silicone hydrogel soft lenses for KC, this is the first summer in 4 years hat I have been able to see the whole of it, I can now wear lenses all my waking hours every day.

As you can tell there are a variety of avenues for you to explore.

Hi Lisa
Have you found the 2 leaflets on the home page of this site which you can download? 'Keratoconus at Work' and 'Keratoconus - How the Law can help you at Work' both give useful information, including more details about the Access to Work scheme Gareth mentioned which will fund 80% of the cost of any additional equipment you might need. Giving the Keratoconus at Work leaflet to your employer will help explain to them the difficulties you're having.
And if you're not already on our postal mailing list, do e-mail your postal address to anne@keratoconus-group.org.uk and I'll send you our introductory information and you'll get regular newsletters and updates from us.
All the best
Anne

Hello all, and especially Lisa

I use Zoomtext at work which I find pretty useful a lot of the time. It is a screen magnifier, (and some versions have a speech facility as well) and I just use it when I need to in addition to some of the other things mentioned above (but not the built in windows magnifier - that is hopeless) . The Dolphin product "Supernova " is basically the same thing, but unfortunately it kept causing my PC to crash (something to do with incompatability with some of our internal programs apparently).

Only thing you have to watch out for is the nosey parkers who then try to read your e-mail and other stuff over your shoulders!

Pat (still lurking occasionally..... )

Hi Guys

Thank you all so much for your comments; I feel like I've discovered the fountain of KC knowledge! I'm so sorry that I haven't replied sooner.

John - thank you for your tip re the zoom in feature on Microsoft. How did I not know that was there (maybe it's time to admit to myself that I'm a techno phobe )

Gareth - gutted that you've suggested that I give up my caffeine intake - I don't know how I'd make it through the working day without it! Lol! Seriously though, many thanks for your advice re the lubricating drops and other ways of combating dehydration. It sounds so obvious but I never even gave it a thought. I also like the sound of the silicone hydrogel lenses; I'll def be picking my optom's brain about these. As for the Display Screen Assessments, am I right in thinking that Action for Blind or the RNIB can do one of these for me? There is no occupational health team at work (I work for a very very small firm) so I've never had a DSA (oops, should I be saying that?).

Anne - thank you for the leaflets. I've ptinted these off and the big boss man is reading them as we speak. I'm hoping the 80% contribution will soften the blow when I ask for the magnifying software suggested by Pat. With ref to the mailing list, I am already registered but I need to change my address; I'll drop you an email shortly to give you my new contact details.

Pat - thank you for suggesting the Zoomtext program. My bf found me a 30 day trial and we installed it on the PC at home. It takes a bit of getting used to but I CAN NOW SEE TEXT ON THE MONITOR WITHOUT ANY LENSES IN! Woop woop! Next job is to convince my boss that I HAVE TO HAVE THIS because, as you say, the MS magnifier is awful.

Lizb - you'll have to let us know how you get on the sample magnifying software. I also note that you're a Lancashire Lass too. Do you know if there are any local KC groups? I note on the website that there is a Manchester branch but that's quite a trek, especially when I'm not in driving condition.


Couple more quick questions. 1) Dry eye................is there any easy way of self-diagnosing this please? The eye which was seemingly suffering with hay fever is now all better and back to all-day contact lens wear. But the one that was fine last week is now the one which is red, swollen and gunky so I'm still doing my one-eyed pirate impression! 2) In addition to regular 6 monthly visits to my optician (providing I have no probs in between), should I still be having regular check-ups at hosp eye clinic? My optician is great and has a lot of experience with KC but should I not still be in the hosp system too?

Many thanks and sorry to be a pain. You'd think I'd know more after 13yrs with KC! Lol!

Lis X

Lisa H wrote:Lizb - you'll have to let us know how you get on the sample magnifying software. I also note that you're a Lancashire Lass too. Do you know if there are any local KC groups? I note on the website that there is a Manchester branch but that's quite a trek, especially when I'm not in driving condition.

not found any local KC groups, and at the moment the manchester group isnt up and running - dont know the detail - but i know the committee are looking for a new recruit to run the manchester group (hint hint hint hint - only joking, i dont have the time to commit to doing anything else at the moment so wouldnt expect someone else to, though would love to have a local support group).

My hubby and i get over to blackburn on a regular basis as hubby (and now me) are season ticket holders at blackburn. Am only at the end of a pm if you want to chat privately.