[erobinson219]

#1019110

I am suffering from eye problems for almost 3 years now. I went thru steroid treatment for awhile but have been off them since last Jan. Now my eyes are getting so bothersome again that it is difficult to work. I am using eye drops and gels but they are just not working. My doctor says the punctal plugs are next to try.

My question is whether others have had issues with their jobs due to eye problems. I find it hard to concentrate and actually feel tired from my eyes being sore and tearing and having the light bother me. I am actually finding my job becoming difficult to do. It’s a lot of reading, computer work(email, internet) and constant reading and research. I feel I am slipping so much lately that it is now affecting my performance and am afraid of losing my job. When my eyes hurt I actually feel ill – mild headache and loss of energy – also inability to think sometimes clearly.

Do I acknowledge at work that I am having this problem? Is this a disability? Is what I am experiencing part of what graves patients go thru? Since it’s been 3 years, I thought I would be getting past this, not getting worse again. I am getting somewhat depressed by all of this. I am feeling that I can’t perform my job like I used to and don’t know what to say or do. I am 54 now so maybe it my age too?

Do I tell my boss? Do I tell HR? Do I consider a disability leave? My position has already been lowered. Is there a way to protect myself form getting canned?

Help – I would like to hear from anyone that has experienced any of this and can offer any advice. I feel like I am starting to lose what I have spent my life building.

[Sue_Conard]

#1069281

Hello erobinson. I too have the TED. It affects my work EVERY DAY as I have double vision and usually find myself wearing a patch over one eye every day until I can get to a point where surgery can be considered. As a matter of fact, yesterday was the first of my THIRD IV Infusions treatment of Solumedrol…so I woke up this morning at 2 AM ready to come to work and of course, had to wait til 8 AM to report. I’m sure by the end of today, I’ll be a basket case, but you understand, I’m sure. And, I found out that crying doesn’t help TED either, it just causes more inflammation and it’s painful, so DON"T CRY!!

I know, in my company, I can go out on what’s called a "temporary disability", pending doctors approval. There are a couple other solutions you might talk to your dr. about too, especially if the steroid treatments worked almost 3 yrs. ago. I had 10 days of radiation therapy to my eyes, which was recommended by the GD eye specialist and I did those treatments in February.

I know how you feel as I’m your age and it seems we worked so long, for what? That’s why I continue to get up every morning, do what my drs. recommend and in the end, if I have to go out on a short term disability for ME and MY HEALTH, it will only make me a better employee when I return. Every situation is very different, but my bosses are very supportive and understand my health concerns so I can talk to them. As a matter of fact, my boss can look at my eyes when they are misaligned and say to me, "Well, doesn’t look like a good day today, where’s the patch?" I told her that I just gave her an extra bullet for her resume, "working with the disabled". I wish you luck. Please let us know how your progress.

[Bobbi]

#1069282

I think before you try for any disability rating that you discuss your situation more completely with your opthamologist. It may be that your condition is mostly associated with the dry eyes that plague us as a result of having thyroid disease, in which case getting the plugs might eliminate, or minimize, your problems.

From what I understand, thyroid disease –for whatever reason — causes our tears to become more watery than normal tears. Normal tears have the ability to sit on the eye for long periods of time, lubricating them. Our tears become thin and run out of the eye very quickly, and even though we are more aware of having lots of tears, they are not staying on the eye long enough to lubricate. The plugs keep the tears on the eyes longer. I did not have to get them, but perhaps some of the folks who did will respond to you and tell you about it.

There may also be some things you can do to change the environment in your work space to alleviate the discomfort. There are ways to minimize the glare from the screen, for example, that is easier on our eyes. You might be able to change the lighting at your desk, etc. We have had information sessions about this topic at NGDF conferences, and it may be collected in one of the information sheets available from NGDF, but I cannot give you precise directions on how to find it. I’ll write one of the moderators who may know and see if they can give you that information. And your opthamologist may be able to give you information about how to change your computer, etc., as well. We often can cope pretty well with some adjustments to the environment.

[npatterson]

#1069283

I had punctal plugs done years ago. I say "done" rather than "placed", because that was how it ws done in "the olden days". I hear the new procedures are comfortable. Mine worked, and are working, well. I have never regrettedit. They have not kept me from needing eye drops as well, but they are a good option for helping along the way.

As to informing your company…I would think you almost would NOT be able to keep it a secret. At least go to HR. Much depends on how large your company is. as to what they are required to do by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Where I work (in a Hospice/Home Health situation), they have gotton me an oversized monitor, and recently ordered me a larger laptop. .

I hope Jake sees this and responds. H knpows a lot about the ADA. I know there was information in the Archives, but I alsoknow it is very difficult to navigate. We are working on that.

[erobinson219]

#1069284

I asked my boss if I could work from home this week and he was ok with it. I have to test the changes in the environments and narrow down what works and doesn’t. Home is a bit better since I can turn down the lighting and put the gooey gel in my eyes a few times a day. I already had my computer monitor changes so that’s not it. The overhead flourescent lighting seems to be particularly bad. Also my home seems to be more humid. I put my sunglasses on a lot but things don’t appear quite as clear reading a computer screen.

I think I have to try the plugs since this is just too unbearable. My quality of life and job performance have suffered. My whole outlook on life has suffered. I work for a very large company so they should have no issue with making accomodations for me – I just have to figure out what those are. They already said they would remove the bulbs over my cube. It’s worth a try but I doubt it will be enough.

If this situation actually qualified for disability that would be ok by me. I’d still get paid a good buck. Somehow I bet that it’s not that easy to qualify. Temporary maybe – until I try all options. But I fear that they will get rid of my position if I take too much time off or need too much accommodation.

I don’t think anyone realizes how much your eyes affect your ability not only to see – but how you feel and how you think. That part is hard to understand or expect others to – but it is real for sure.

[erobinson219]

#1069285

well,I worked form home this week and the change of lighting seemed to help some. But due to enormous amount of work currently on the plate, i was am putting in over 12 hours work a day on the computer. By wed, thu my eyes flared up real bad again. Now I think the computer work itself is part of the problem. Yikes – I won’t be able to do my job without most of the time at the computer.

Can my eyes survive computer screen use several hours a day?

Other than taking lots of breaks, I wonder if I should go out and spend a few hundred bucks on some specks that will help reduce the eye strain. With my eye prescription , this wil cost me about $500.

Also, I have to go to a plastic reconstructive orbital surgeon for the plugs. The first appt I can get is Sept 17 just for initial visit – GEEZ. So long a time to go yet and on;t even know if that is going to help anyway.

[ewmb]

#1069286

Hi,
Do you have frames already for glasses? If not you can look at the thrift stores for some. Also check out the Lions Club in your area if you are in a bind about having the money right now. That’s what they do. They are a great group in our area. Our eye doctor has a box in his office to collect old glasses for others. Does your insurance have an eye glasses allowance? I didn’t know that mine at work did until someone else mentioned it. For mine you have to fill in a form after you buy the glasses and you get a check for $100 back.

Hope you can find some relief. Do you have a glare screen on your computer? I’ve heard that they can help. Also try changing the color of the background that you use on your word processing program or on your e-mail. You can try different colored fonts too. You’ll have to change it back to send if off to someone else sometimes but it might make things easier on your eyes while working. My daughter has an eye issue that is in her perception of things from her brain. She does really well with green paper at school and we print her green lined paper to write on. It’s an easy thing to do and is worth a try.

ewmb

[cathycnm]

#1069287

I have real issues with dry eye in February and March. I though I needed to swim in eye drops to keep up with my postmasters reading assignments. Honestly, it really had an impact on my whole attitude for life. My opthamologist placed the plugs – really quick and painless. I could feel a difference instantly. Occasionally, I get too many tears and I get one down my cheek. I smile every time going – yea, I have tears again. I would recomend that you explore it. My insurance covered the cost because I have Graves. Worth checking into. ” title=”Very Happy” />

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