Immigrating / Working Abroad with KC

[gristdezza]

I don't know if anyone can help. I have had KC for about 6 years now. It has got to the point within the last 3 years that I wear Rose-K GP contact lenses which is fine and my prescription has stabilised. I work for a company with an office in Australia and they want me to work down there for 4 years or immigrate. I have heard that KC care down in Australia is fine, and you can get help from private practice optometrists which is probably better than visiting eye clinics on the NHS, but would KC stop me from getting a work permit as it is classed as a medical condition perhaps? HAS anyone on this forum had KC and managed to immigrate to another country or obtain a temp. work visa without any problems? Any advise appreciated....

[rosemary johnson]

Derek,
Good luck with the posting to Oz. WIsh I orked for someone who could send me on postings in exciting lplaces........

As it sounds like your KC is stable, adequately correctly by your contact lenses so you can work effectively with the lenses, I don't see why there should be any problems. THere must be lots and lots of people applying for visas/work permits who wear glasses or contact lenses and need annual checkups and new prescriptions.

The important factor, it sounds to me, is that it is your employer, who knows your talents,, who wants to you go on this posting - presumably, your knowledge of the company, its business and "corporate culture" -
you have company knowledge that puts you in the position of being uniquely suitable for this posting.
Does your company have many overseas offices and regularly send people on postings in other countries?
- if so, they must be faced with questions of applying for visas and work permits regularly, and this should not be a major problem for them.
Maybe they have "in-house" people who deal with this, or they work through an agency, perhaps?
Either way, the key thing is to make the point that y the KC is not a problem - you cope fine, the contacts work well for you - you just need to make sure that you have the right health insurance JUST IN CAE anything goes wrong out of the bluue. ANd that you can get regular check ups. After all, anyone who wears glasses./contacts for ordinary short-sightedness should have optician's check-ups regularly.
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

gristdezza

A member of my own family (although not a direct relative of mine) has KC and is now living and working in Australia. He is there on a 12 month "gap year" visa.

Andrew

[gristdezza]

Thanks very much for your reply. Luckily the company I work for HAS sent people overseas before. They (at this stage) do not see it as a problem as it is eyes rather than a heart condition.

Thanks for your help.