I feel embarrassed when people comment on my screen settings. I know this is ridiculous, please help me get over it.

I don't have your complex sight problems but I have monocular vision. The glasses/removing of glasses/increasing doc size works for everything except our main operating system which I reckon is from the 1980s. I can cope by pulling my screen right in. The comments I have had about this ( I also happen to be the oldest) is ridiculous and I've had to be pretty blunt to stop it.
Next job, it's a pre requisite that I can check this stuff before accepting the offer.

Not sure on which planet do you live. Most female colleagues share their lives and general health anyway. Why don't you use glassed? - I do. Forgot my glasses the other day and shared it with the line manager and any colleague who was there heard it and knew that my husband is bringing them.

another made up post

I'd say, "I've got keratoconus. And no, it's not that singer from Atomic Kitten"

I have Keratoconus too. In the past at my work, couldn’t work on certain checkouts during certain periods of the year as sunlight bounced off window, into my eyes.

Code checking. Have a few lines where can’t tell if numbers are 6 or 8. Or 5 and 6 - only by the straight line at the top of 5.

Then had some new screens on tills on kiosk and not adjustable.

Then don’t start with the lottery terminal. It’s a ‘refurbished’ one after the old terminal unable to post slips and tickets through the feeder. The screen is very dim.

You poor thing. Go to your manager and tell them about your eye conditions and inform them that you are going to contact 'Access to Work' as you can't carry on working in these conditions. They will come and inspect the work environment and make suggestions for adaptations to support you properly. Your employer is likely to have to foot the bill though they may get some funding.

Perhaps ask your manager to speak with colleagues (or you can) ... if they don't know about your condition and how they can support you they are going to carry on.

You will likely be classed as having a disability. Good luck getting this sorted out.

A chap at my work who had vision problems used to use an on screen magnifier - so it just physically magnified the content visible on the screen. They could then move their mouse across the screen as they read. That might be helpful in some situations?

If you're in a university they almost certainly have a disabled staff network. I find mine really helpful because we're all in the same boat and can ask questions of each other. Usually people have experience and can explain.

The other thing to ask is that people doing presentations make sure their PowerPoint is accessible. So that means using tables etc made inside PowerPoint not images, making images not essential to the presentation where possible and adding good alternative text explanations to the images where required. You can also mark images as decorative only.

The above also works on word documents and things that are then converted to PDF too. Apologies if you know all this already.

Depending how you find typing lots of people find dragon software useful (dictation software) but be aware it eats ram so you may need an adapter computer.

I have concluded being open about the fact that I have "a long term health condition" makes life easier. But if colleagues continue being difficult, ultimately that's disability discrimination. I do think, unfortunately, that you have to tell people about your needs. If someone worked remotely in a wheelchair then they'd need to mention that coming into a different office say because otherwise people wouldn't know to book an accessible meeting room. Obviously that's probably also an argument for making things accessible by design.

The other thing I'd probably see if I could do if I were you would be test various ways of doing presentations/meetings with a single, trusted, helpful colleague until you work out what suits you. That way you can know what to ask for. I'd be very happy to facilitate a day "out of office" (i.e. off emails etc) to do this for any of my employees and it would be a reasonable thing to ask for.

Personally, I find the fact that my body doesn't do what I want it to super annoying and it frustrates me all the time. I can tend to blame myself for that sort of thing. But it is reasonable to expect adjustments at work, though people do have to know that you need them.

Sorry the last bit should say it would help me if you...

I have a disability which means I have to stand in meetings. People react to this is if I'm being aggressive even if I say things in a normal voice. A lot of reactions are subconscious.

I just sent an email to the whole team saying this is my disability, this is what I need (I put why), this is what it's like for me, it would me if you...

I think people thought I was oversharing but they were a lot more understanding after that

I feel your frustration OP. I use a pink tint on all my media for dyslexia and everyone always comments or decides to change it back. It’s frustrating! Back in the day I remember having a plastic overlay on my computer screen. If I was ever off work on AL I would guarantee some fucker would take it off, then it get lost or damaged or horrible finger prints.

You maybe able to get a magnifying screen overlay (back in the day they used to have these) and work should provide this as reasonable adjustments. It’s not appropriate (or legal) to put you at a disadvantage in your work like this.

I would think that this is discrimination under the disability act. You should have reasonable adjustments put in place for you by law. Is there anyone in HR who could help? Also, I would tell your colleagues that you have a disability - which you have. You don't have to go into the details that you have here, but simply say that you have very bad sight. It is unacceptable that your colleagues are behaving in such a juvenile manner, but I always find that giving the basics of the truth is the best way to stop silly comments once and for all. I know from personal experience that it can be daunting admitting to a disability as l have had a lifetime of hearing impairments, and my hearing is becoming more impaired, which does not really sit with being a professional musician and music teacher. However, I have started to reframe things in my mind, telling myself that I have done well despite my disability - yes, it has taken me nearly sixty years to realise and admit to myself that I do have a disability. You have done really well despite a significant problem with your eyesight. I sometimes think that disabilities can make us more determined to succeed. One person who is a shining example of this is Richard Osman. He was born with a condition called nystagmus and he is registered partially sighted. A very good rôle model for anyone, l think.

If your company has an Occupational Health department they can also help you. Ask how you would refer yourself to them.

Ok, I think you might be misinterpreting their reactions here- why would they be annoyed by something that doesnt affect them? Its hardly your fault your eyes are like this - its not like you poked them with pencils on purpose to make them like that so its ridiculous for them to be annoyed or angry with you for making your screen bigger- just think about how very silly that would be on their part.

I have MGB so I can relate to eye issues/needing bigger print as my eyes get dry quickly and I have had to get a big screen for work and I sometimes put a hot compress on them at work but not once have I ever felt embarrassed by it because its just something that happened. It's not down to anything I have done. I treat it like its no big deal and so everyone else does too.

Jung once said: 'Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will control your life and you will call it fate.' I'd have a ponder about what this is really about and why this is bothering/niggling at you so much. What's behind all this- is it because you feel it reflects on you personally, is it because you feel you arent worth extra assistance? Or, is it that you are struggling yourself with this diagnosis and are very self conscious about it? could be lots of reasons etc

As an aside, your employer has a legal responsibility to make reasonable adjustments so I'd be asking for a bigger screen. It's discriminatory otherwise.

@BurningRubber refer your self to Access to Work with DWP.

They assess your needs and depending on the size of your employer pay for the equipment you need. I would find out what IT system work has so you can state why you can't use xyz software there.

It's tough isn't it. I know you don't know these people but you'll be working with then a lot? In which case it's probably something you should tell them to stop them bringing it up each time.

Once you've mentioned it once and suggested your work around of emailing it to them then if they keep being funny with you about it it's time to start writing down each instance and speak to your manager.

Yabu to keep using a system that will probably finish your sight off! Complain or change jobs!

Omg - what? Your employer has a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments if you've got a physical impairment like this. Have you picked it up with HR? Maybe there's no alternative available, but if there is then they need to look into it. Please don't suffer unnecessarily x

You have a disability.

Your colleagues are behaving inappropriately.
Your employer also appears to be behaving inappropriately.

Speak to HR about reasonable adjustments, as PP have said, there are screen magnifiers, overlays, bigger monitors... and it very much is your employers responsibility to sort this for you.

As for the colleagues, dead pan stare and say 'are you this rude/unpleasant/insensitive to everyone with a disability, or is it just me?'

No the law says you need to make reasonable adjustments. Spending thousands of pounds on new kit is likely not reasonable.

Would something like this help you be less frustrated by scrolling and see what’s on the screen better?

https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/living-aids/hearing-vision-aids/magnifiers/table-stand-magnifier?sku=Q37044

Or more high tech/ expensive https://amzn.eu/d/eXkikn2

Your employer should be making reasonable adjustments for your eye conditions, you are covered by the Equality Act 2010, so inform your manager.

Screen settings should be adjusted in the machines operating system, but they need to do it as it will improve the conditions you are working in as they are not good right now.

If people continue to moan about your screen settings or text size, tell them you have sight issues.

I have keratoconus (I've never actually encountered anyone else with it!) and hate feeling that people are annoyed with me so I completely understand how rubbish this must feel. I'm so sorry. Is there any way to ask the manager to have a discreet word with the repeat offenders so she/he can suggest they stop being knobs be a little more thoughtful in their interactions in future? Honestly though, this is a them problem not a you problem. It's okay to be up front about it if you feel comfortable enough, even if it makes them squirm. You're doing your best in a really challenging situation

I'm sure you've already tried but just in case it helps, gas permeable lenses (after a whopper of an adjustment period and two failed collagen cross linking surgeries) have been life changing for me.

OP, have you formally requested reasonable accommodations from your employer? You've been dancing around the issue with your colleagues, so is it possible you haven’t made your the request to your employer as clearly and formally as it needs to be made? There should be a process for this.

There’s no prize for suffering in silence. The idea of being embarrassed of a disability is not healthy, either to you or to others who have disabilities and didn’t know they were supposed to be ashamed of them. Unless you work in a tiny place, it’s very unlikely that you are the only person needing some kind of accommodation.

Reasonable adjustments are a legal requirement. Ask for an OH assessment. Your employer is obliged to make the recommended adjustments. The key word is 'reasonable'. The employer wouldn't be expected to overhaul their entire system but could well have to find a decent laptop/screen arrangement that works for you.

If you had a much larger monitor but kept the screen resolution the same size it would make the images physically larger without needing to zoom in and scroll.

You could even use a TV set as most computers can output to HDMI (or have an adaptor attached so it can). Ask your manager about it as a reasonable adaptation.

I have serious vision issues. Severely limited vision in one eye and need a very strong lens for the other eye.

I have no problem telling anyone who questions my squinting or close up reading of text about my vision. There is nothing to hide!

I’m in the US so I don’t know about UK laws, but I would think your employer would be required to make accommodations for your vision. I hope your work situation improves soon.