so upset

[Michelle Oates]

sorry bout the title of this but didnt know what else to put. i am working 12 hr shifts so am wearing my contacts for at least 16hr.

My eyes have been painful because of my lens not fitting right and scratching. You know how it is. Plus daily vision changes. It has been affecting me at work and as i work at bingo club i have to give out right change and plus i work in the treasury.

I have a investigatory meeting tomorrow re all the cash variances that happened and i know its because of my eyes.

Went to see the contact lens specialist today for 5 min. IS that all. He said there is not alot more he can do for me lens wise but wants to leave it over the summer before he refers me back to the consultant to discuss re op.

I explained that my eyes are very sore. He just mentioned about hayfever which i d not suffer and this soreness is like my lens grating my eye especially if i look a certain way.

Im really struggling and upset

[donna]

you sound really upset. can you take a couple of days off and give your eyes a rest from the lenses?
Is there anyway you can work shorter shifts? When I get my lenses we are having a meeting at work and my shifts will be rearranged so I am not working long shifts.
xx

[Eddie S]

Hi Michelle,

For fear of repeating myself and in fact i've said this to Donna, have a hug, you sound like you need a big one.

Ok some things to try from my limited experience..

1. Your eyes sound like they are getting dried out, hence the pain and the feeling of scratching. Have you tried drops? and the usual advice of drinking plenty etc. It does help. If one set of drops dont agree with you try a different sort. Make sure they are preservative free and you shouldnt have any reaction or problems from continued use.

2. Have you tried different overnight solutions? I've swapped recently and my 'dry eyes' went away a few weeks later.

3. Are these the first type of lenses you've tried. If they are then ask if you can try different ones. I've been through a fair few types of lenses - it just requires you and your optician to be patient. Some aren't, if yours isnt get a second opinion.

4. Try one lens in to give your other eye a rest. Can be confusing at first but does genuinely help your eyes to rest.

5. At the end of your day your eyesight is really important. Badly fitting lenses can damage your eyes and you shouldnt put up with them. Persevering with them today will only make them feel worse tomorrow.

Sorry if you've heard all of this before.

Anyway, I hope the meeting goes well tomorrow. There are some good printouts on this site that help get across to your employter what you're going through. It may help in your defence, your honour!

Teehee, me being silly. Seriously, all the best luck.

Let us know how you get on.

Eddie xx

[Michelle Oates]

eddie

yes have tried drops. nothing working.

I do drink alot of tea and water.

these are the only lenses that the CL person cud fit me with and had them before but this is a different fitting.

saw your post earlier.

my printer isnt working so will print it off at the library and take it with me.

[mike scott]

hi michelle

first off eddies advice is impeccable.

i use "contact refresh " from boots, a lot in warmer weather. if you use moisturising drops regularly then you should definately benefit after a few days.

are you under a high st optom? , if you are can you get a referral to an eye hospital/clinic, they tend to have a far greater degree of experience with KC and far greater resources and management solutions.

with regard to work, does your employer know of your KC?

if he does then you definately have "mitigating circumstances".

you still have "mitigating circumstances" even if they dont know , but it could be harder to argue.

establish why you are being given the sack!

you cant be fired for having KC, thats illegal, and any employer should know that.

if its for cash discrepencies then the onus is on your employer to prove beyond doubt that you are the cause, it is at this point that you argue your "mitigating circumstances".

also seek the advice from citizens advice, or even a solicitor specalising in employment law, the first consultation is usually free.

i know it may be cold comfort at the moment, but if you have an employer that lacks understanding and is not prepared to listen to and make reasonable adjustments for you or anybody else with a "disability" then you are better off not working for them at all.
the pressure of living with KC is hard enough without having to pretend that you dont suffer with it just for a job. a job can be replaced, your eyes cant, and i'm sure you are worth more than to be treated in such a manner, so learn to value yourself.

hope this helps

mike

[Michelle Oates]

thanks Mike

I use refresh drops as well. My eyes didnt suit systane. My eyes feel like they are grating. only 1hr after i put them in and i put drops in before and after.
I am at the hospital and see the contact lens person who comes from leeds.

I put on my app form that i have KC- being managed by contact lenses as thats all there was room for but at the meeting he just dismissed it.

My eyes have been getting worse as the hosp said its getting time for the transplant.

Its nice of you to say that and the manager is horrible no one likes him. Staff morale is low. He doesnt help at all wheras the deputy's will. He has been powering over me each thurs putting me under pressure to finish.

i prob admit to the figures being wrong but as you know with KC vision changes daily and the focusing etc.

Thanks mike

[mike scott]

hi michelle

you are braver than i am , cos i have never had the courage to put KC down on an application form, and its because of employers attitudes , such as your employer.

however because you disclosed it then your boss has no excuse for his behavior towards you, and should have made reasonable adjustments for you, such as improved lighting, breaks from your tasks when needed etc, if a caring and understanding attitude is beyond him non the less.

if your eyes are approaching graft stage then your sight is likely to be unpredictable at the best of times and probably bordering on lens intolerance which is why you are getting so much pain with lenses.

if you are attending an investigation, then let your natural senses be pin sharp towards any descriminating innuendos by your employer and dont be rail-roaded by him

good luck and keep up the fight

mike

[Andrew MacLean]

Michelle

Tea is not the stuff you ought to be drinking for re-hydration. I am aftaid it contains quite a lot of caffeine so that you end up pushing out more fluid than you take in.

Gareth suggests that we drink water for hydration. I think he is right.

I also want to say that I agree with Eddie.

Andrew

[GarethB]

Michelle,

You should not be having to wear lenses for the duration you are. Your employer has an obligation to make allowances for your eye condition. They can not dismiss it, we do have a disability so have protection under the disability discrimination act.

I wouls suggest you contact Action for the blind who cater for us too and get some advice.