Dry air in the office? Humidity?

[david_grist]

Hi All

This is my first post. I was diagnosed with Keratoconus 29 years ago, I wore glasses for the first 2 years and moved to hard and then RGP lenses. This summer I started wearing Scleral Lenses full time, though initially I could not get on with these (mainly panic attacks at getting these out) I much prefer them to my previous RGP lenses. I find the Scleral lens much more comfortable.

We are now coming to the end of November, and have had a few cold spells in the weather, consequently the heaters have been put on in the office. It may be coincidence, but I suffered the most terrible eye soreness, and had not been able to get my lenses in my eyes, this put me out of work for two weeks and the eyes are still a little red, though I can get lenses in. I am now back at work, heaters on and the air is so dry, and now the eyes are feeling sore again.

Has anyone experienced a similar problem with a dry atmosphere? Is there a minimum humidity range a room should be kept at, does anyone know? It struck me this time that the office environment may be the primary cause of my recent problem as we moved to a new building about two years ago, and this is the third similar instance I have suffered since being in the new office; the last time was at the begining of summer and I was referred to the eye specialist at my local hospital, he advised me I had dry eye, which apparently is common with Keratoconus. Further, a colleague of mine since being in the new offices is suffering terrible skin problems and we are both thinking it may have something to do with the air here at work.

I am looking at purchasing a humidifier to help alleviate the problem, assuming dry air is the problem, would anyone know if there are any particular devices that work best.

Thanks in advance for your help

David

[Anne Klepacz]

Hi David and welcome!
Yes, modern offices are the bane of our lives! Lots of us are affected by air conditioning, and the dry air in many buildings these days. Don't know if you've found the 'Keratoconus at Work' leaflet on our home page which you can download and give to your employer - we mention humidifiers there and the problems of lack of humidity. Others may be able to recommend particular types of humidifier and/or know what the recommended humidity level is. Having lots of plants in the office also helps to increase humidity (perhaps you could have a 'buy a plant for Christmas' campaign with work colleagues!) Some people here have also managed to negotiate working from home for 1 or 2 days a week with their employer to try to alleviate the problem. I hope you manage to get something sorted out. Might also be worth going back to the hospital to see if there is anything they can do to help. There are drops to help with dry eye - not sure what the best ones would be with scleral lenses.
Anne

[JoeK]

Hi David,

I have a Boneco 2055D Humidifier at work. Humidity levels are advised to be kept at 55%. This was ok for me until i moved into an open plan office where humidity level goes up to 38%. I have noticed more comfort with my RGPs since using the humidifier expesially when the overhead heating system is switched on.

I hope that helps.

[Andrew MacLean]

david_grist

We;come to the forum. I see that others have given good advice, and will not add to it.

Every good wish. let us know the solution to which you come and how things work out for you.

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

Yes, I've had exactly that problem - we moved into a new office and my (scleral) lenses dried out and my eyes started hurting madly.
Went to A&E and they gave me a prescription ofr artificial tears which just made my eyes sticky.
The "management" eventually "sovled" th problem by moving me out to a Portakabin.
Good luck with finding humidifier(s) to solve the dry atmosphere. If you can find other people at your workplace who are also having problems, this can only help. In my case, several other people had also got problems with their contact lenses drying out, but as they could take them out and wear glasses they just did that and didn't want to make a fuss.
AFAIK there is no legal requirement on humidity levels - only a minimum temperature, a foot above the floor an hour after the start of the working day. No humidity, no maximum temperature (I used to be union rep for people who had to work in white coas and plastic aprons and with Bunsen burners on all day.
Apart from finding allies, only suggestion I can offer to to try moving around the office and see if it is bad everywhere - or if it is not-so-bad if you can move out of the way of any vents, hot drafts, etc.
Good luck.
Rosemary

[GarethB]

Hi David,

Ask your employers/occupational health for a Display Screen Equipment assesment as PC use can add to the problems of aircona s your blink rate goes down. The assesment will look at more than the PC and the software you use, but your desk and office/work environment if done correctly.

From the assesment you will thne have written evidence to support a change of desks, this could be an office, move away from the heaters and air con ducts and so on, litle things that do not cost any money.

There are also lubricating eye drops, I use Systane by Alcon and these work 90% of the time and I work in an environment where it has to be sub 30% humidity in the labs and the offices are much the same as you quote. I cope a lot better in the offices and verey 20 - 30 minutes I get up from the PC. I also have a good supply of water at my desk and get through 2 litres of water a day and that has really helped me over the past 3.5 years when I first showed signs of lens intolerance and could only wear them for a couple hours a day.

[JoeK]

Going on from my previous post and adding to Gareths comments, i got a work place assessment from Access to Work. where a work place advisor came to my work place and went over my work conditions that included pc, atmosphere, sunlight/glare from windows etc. a recommendation report was given to my employers and as a result my work station was moved to an area that would not be impacted by the sun as well as the purchase of a humidifier, 22 inch screen and monitor arm. the employer receives a grant of 80% and so only paid 20% of the equipment costs. the advisor also recommended some maginfication software which i didnt take up as i wasnt comfortable with software and didnt feel i would really have used it.

I think its worth all of us that have KC and have conditions that may impact on our work to arrange for an assessment to be done. It doesnt cost anything and as in my case its gives the employer and your colleagues a better idea about the condition and take you more seriously when you are having bad eye days. additionnaly i dont get asked anymore why i wear sunglasses in the winter!!!

[Andrew MacLean]

Where I live, 'Access to Work' contracts out the work place assessments to the RNIB. Two of their consultants came round and recommended all sorts of goodies for my computer (including a new computer). It is well worth while pursuing this option.

Andrew

[tneedham]

Where are you based?
I have an unused Humidifier you can have if you want?

[david_grist]

Hi, I am based in Essex.