I'm an optometrist fitting soft contact lenses for KC...

[GarethB]

Dry Eyes; I have found that I can drastically increase my lens wear time by being very strict with some health and safety guidlines.

1) Maximum PC use time is 30 mins and I use a 19" monitor for the industry programs whcih have pre-set colours and fonts. Regularly take 5 minute breaks so I do not save all the post for the post room for the end of the day or my photocopying to do in one hit. The same amount of work gets done, just not all in one go.

2) Airconditioning; I am lucky in that I can open the window next to my desk just to get a slight breeze which helps stop my eyes drying. I also make a point of going the outside root to the mailroom and not inside to give my eyes some fresh air.

Before doing this, I had a maximum 'comfortable' wear time of 6 hours, now it is 12 hours which the specialists I have spoken to say this is the maximum acceptable limit.

Since putting a presentation together for my work collegues on KC, they have become very undersatinding regarding why I do things in a specific way. They also now realise that I am being just as productive as they are even if it does look like I am taking regular little breaks.

It is al about giving your eyes a chance to relax and to get the tears to flow more naturally. This has allowed me to rapidly reduce the 'dimple staining' on my corneas next to the graft while increasin the lens wear time from what it was. If computer programs can not be enlarged due to their design, there is some good software on the market that allow these types of packages to be increased in size so making them less of a strain.

[Lynn White]

Excellent post Gareth!

I'd like to add a couple of things here...

When you do any concentrated task like reading, driving or watching TV, you actually reduce your blink rate as an aid to concentration.

On a computer - if you are quite good at typing without watching the keys, you tend to get "locked into" the screen and your blink rate goes down even further. This is the reason eyes dry out so much on the computer as well as the heat and/or air conditioning in the office.

So, if it is difficult to take frequent breaks like Gareth (because yes, co-workers do start to think you are "skiving") then try and look away and blink fully a few times.

Managing dry eyes is an art and needs positive action. KC's are more prone than others to suffering dry eyes so you have to be proactive.

Thanks again Gareth... because when I tell patients to do this ie take breaks I get an "Oh yeah" response and many don't try it. It is so good to hear someone telling others it really works!

Cheers!

Lynn

[GarethB]

In addition, if you use computers for I think 4 hours or more, your emplyer is legaly obliges to provide a VDU assesment and this covers the set up of the whole work station and does recomend regular breaks. Not for dry eyes, but to prevent eyestrain leading to the need for glasses or resulting in headaches.

Lighting and glare on the screen can also have a big impact. I now sit at another desk which is 12 inches further away from the light than my old desk.

I will investigate to see if the booklet I have from work can be made available to all through this site.

Gareth

[Sajeev]

Yes...from thinking about what you said GarethÂ…It reminded me, that I heard something interesting from a news programme.

This was about an European regulation/directive which gives anyone who works in front of a computer screen (in the EU) A FREE YEARLY EYE TEST!!!...which you employer should pay for! (I donÂ’t know if there is an opt-out clause in itÂ…because I did not catch the whole programme...) But I do remember it went on to say that it is paid for by your employer. Also that these vouchers worked in the same way as the Luncheon Vouchers system.

Apparently the people who manage the Luncheon Vouchers system are the ones managing the eye test vouchers (well here in the UK anyway!)

[Lynn White]

OK...

Yes it is possible to get a free eye test every year if you work on a computer... but it often depends on the size of company - small businesses are excluded from many of these regulations because they just could not afford alll the health and safety regs.

The situation is different between many firms because it depends whether there is a union involved or not and basically, the main people doing this are large companies.

Some will contribute towards specs as well - but often they slip in a clause saying "Are these spectacles SOLELY for VDU use or also general use?" It is VERY difficult to say any pair of glasses can only be used on a VDU!!!

Also, many of these voucher schemes are arranged with specific optometrists or companies like Specsavers. Without denigrating any such companies - if you are already attending an optometrist who is aware of your KC condition and your specific difficulties - it is not a good idea to go skipping around to other ones for the sake of the VDU test!

There are specific guidelines laid down for working at VDU stations - but again, smaller companies may well be exempt from this. Sorting a decent leaflet may well be the answer - and Gareth - good idea about digging out the ones you have.

Lynn

[GarethB]

I think bringing the literature I have to the KC confrence and adding to it specific KC needs would be very beneficial to us, especially if it is in a format that is aimed at employers as well as the employee.

When I first discussed the issue about my KC coming back (in that the old cornea decided it was going to deteriorate and pull the grafts out of shape!), they were very dismissive and were of the attitude glasses would be aquick fix. Three months off work and the reality had not quite sunk in, but one I plagerised much from this site and put it into a more corperate style powerpoint presentation, the penny dropped and reality hit. For a bilion dollar company where it takes six signatures for a 'non-standard' monitor, mine was done inside a month. It usually takes 4 months!

If anyone else has found ways to overcome dry eyes, manage lens wear, cope with cmputers etc, let me know and I will see what I can pull together. I am sure anyone that is on the support group comitte will welcome someone taking this forward so they have something to work from ad possibly publish.

Gareth

[John Smith]

I will investigate to see if the booklet I have from work can be made available to all through this site.

Hi Gareth,

If you can find it and post it to me, I'd be glad to put it up here for everyone else to make use of.

[Dipesh]

Hi,

A number of people have been discussing the merits of Systane, in conjunction to wearing RGP.

Is this same fo Sclerals lens too.????... I currently wear a Sclerals in my left only and suffer from dry and itching eyes. Has any scleral lens users used Systane?

[Dipesh]

Hi,

A number of people have been discussing the merits of Systane, in conjunction to wearing RGP.

Is this same fo Sclerals lens too.????... I currently wear a Sclerals in my left only and suffer from dry and itching eyes. Has any scleral lens users used Systane?

[GarethB]

Hi John,

Here is a link to the 'Workin with VDU's' booklet from the HSE that I was refering to;

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf

(This link should be better; no sideways scrolling on a standard size monitor.)

Pages 5 and 6 are sight related.
Pages 10 and 11 advise frequent short breaks although there is no legal limit.
Oages 12 and 14 give advice on how best to set up your work station.

My local RNIB branch and Job centre have offerd to provide assitance should I need it to get the correct equipment for work. Government grants are aslo available to reduce the financial burden to employers.

Hope this helps.

Gareth