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

[BurningRubber]

I started a new job a few months ago and one of the systems I have to use is really old. I didn't realise this before taking on the job and tbh I wouldn't have taken the job if I did realise because it is causing me no end of problems. The system has very small text. I have keratoconus which makes small text look blurry and unfortunately I also use drops and creams for high eye pressure and corneal erosion which also makes close work blurry. Basically my eyes are a bit rubbish but most of the time it's not a problem as you can enlarge screens and have read aloud and that's what I do. But this system is so old that none of this works on it. The only thing I can do is have it on a separate screen and change the settings and tbh it still looks weird and I have to do things like scroll across and down the window to reach the end of a line. I actually hate it! But what I also hate is colleagues coming up to my desk and saying things like "ooh your screen looks funny" or "I can't look at things on your screen, can't you change it back?" Also if someone is trying to show me a new part/process of the system they're doing it on their screen, and I can't see it. I have to write down what they say word for word and then when I'm back on my screen work out how it corresponds.

Actually reading through all that I'm thinking that I can't keep doing this job 😞 But also I get very put on edge by all the comments.

Could you try saying "I can make the text smaller but it will also make my output slower - which would you prefer?"

They are not making reasonable accommodation for your disability. Time to speak to your union and HR.

If anyone asks, say I am visually impaired and these setting work for me.

Don’t be embarrassed, you have a health condition. Just tell them ‘I have an eye condition, I need my screen like this’

do you have a union?

I'm no expert but if you need screen adjustments to see becaues of a medical condition, I think your employers are legally obliged to make those reasonable adjustments.

I'd take some legal advice because forget about the comments, it's just not fair that you are having to do all this scrolling

Your employer has a duty of care toward you to put in reasonable adjustments to help you see your work better - even if they say there isn't anything that would help. They are unlikely to bother doing the research to find out whether there is something that could or not. Your sight impairment will be covered under the equality act. They should also fund the cost of reasonable adjustments however it's worth checking on here too.

www.gov.uk/access-to-work

Because the way I have to enlarge it does make it difficult to read because I have to scroll to the end of every line. So if they're just looking over my shoulder eg to see what's happened with xyz, they can't see it immediately. Neither can I, I have to scroll across and/or down, and it takes time, and when I'm doing that they say eg "I can't cope with your screen" or "I can't look at that" and ask me to send an email to them letting them know what's on the screen. I do get it, because it's clunky, but it just makes me feel v awkward.

I'm the same!! People make comme ts about me. I just give a jokey reply so.ething like ' call me Mr Magoo'
Actually ill have to update them cultural reference, the staff are getting g younger and will have no idea what I'm talking about!!

That's not good enough. They should be making reasonable adjustments so that you can do your job. Or at least give you an office/office space where you're not overlooked.

Oh that makes sense. That's the point at which you say, "apologies I can't read the text any smaller, do you want to wait or shall I email it over?".

I've had crap eye sight my entire life. I have font on my screens big and ask others to make theirs big if I can't read it.

Usually I just make a passing comment about crap vision, followed up with I refuse to squint at screens, hence I've got no wrinkles!

After that if things are small I jokingly ask if they're trying to give me wrinkles.

I'd probably tell your coworkers I can look at a blur or I can read the screen and be helpful.

Wow, this has been so enlightening.

Yours and a few of the other comments are really helping me to navigate these difficulties. I know it sounds stupid but I've just been freezing when people say things like this. I have found this diagnosis and its knock on effects really hard. When you get told there's something wrong with your eyes you just get a lot of information about eyes, but not about how you need to learn to navigate, well, everything really.

It's hard OP when you get a diagnosis of anything. You want to hide away and pretend to be "normal". Your colleges don't need your medical history, but a little bit of context will stop the comments (unless your colleagues are all arses).

Op, maybe look into a screen magnifier. You can get them for phone, not sure about desktops.that might be a reasonable adjustment they could make.

I understand that the software is really old, etc. But I don't understand why you are working with a normal computer screen. Thinking laterally.... can't you have a 42" TV screen type thing and use that as your monitor? Work should pay for it - this is a reasonable and not very expensive adaptation!

How can they see your screen- just walking past or something? Have you tried a privacy screen like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166023622485?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=LzGmWwRQc6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XhozZabkQo6&var=&widgett_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Could get this plus a screen behind you or move desks so they can't walk past the back of your chair

You have a disability and the company should be making adjustments to help you so I would get back on to them about it.
I don't think you should be embarrassed about telling people that you have difficulties with your eyesight. You don't have to go into all the details about it, just say that you have an eye condition which means you need to have larger text on the screen to be able to read clearly.

Firstly I agree with everyone saying your employer is not doing enough. There are tons of adjustments that can be made like screen magnifiers much larger screens etc and definitely try access to work. Secondly needing reasonable adjustments is really common at work. You really don't need to say much. You could just say I need it like this for accessibility reasons and then agree how to share data. People will either realise you have a condition that affects your vision or assume your dyslexic. If they then decide to ask lots of nosey questions just say oh it's quite a new and personal diagnosis I'd rather not share the details

You a disability. That's a protected characteristic. You should tell your boss and ensure your work make reasonable adjustments for you, eg bigger screen.

And tell your colleagues to stop making stupid comments!

You have a disability, that should say.

Is that because they don't have the budget to get up to date equipment? You might need to talk to HR about reasonable adjustments.

Oh I have keratoconus OP and have to wear corrective lenses which make my vision excellent but I often have to go without them if my eyes get dry or sore and I can't see fuck all unless my face is right up to what I'm looking at or everything is enlarged and it's got to the point now where I say "I haven't got my lenses in and I can't see" before anyone starts lol also the comments like "you should try glasses when you can't wear your lenses because it will help" lol it does get annoying when people always comment

First, I agree that you should push back on your line manager/IT - the current setup is far from good and if they are sticking to this antiquated and inaccessible system, they need to show how they are making it usable for their staff who have accessibility needs. Would a mega-wide curved monitor make a difference? Or some other kind of technology that might not be on the standard procurement book and they would have to work to find a procurement solution but might actually stop them from forcing you to work on a system in a way that's not compatible with your medical condition? I'm really cross about this on your behalf, you've definitely been palmed off with a bit of a bodged sticking plaster solution in the hopes that you won't push for actual reasonable adjustments that you're entitled to.

But what I also hate is colleagues coming up to my desk and saying things like "ooh your screen looks funny" or "I can't look at things on your screen, can't you change it back?"

That is incredibly annoying. Could you try something like "trust me, it's more annoying for me than it is for you" kind of response? It avoids having to get into personal explanations but makes it clear there's a reason for this setup.

can't work provide you with a bigger screen so that you can have the text larger but it will fit on the screen so you don't have to keep scrolling back and forth?

As others have said, the RNIB can help you navigate some of this, and an Access to Work assessment would be useful - you might be able to get some Access to Work funding? Your employer needs to do better to make reasonable adjustments and install specialist software like Zoomtext or something, or a screen reader.

It’s also not unreasonable for you to ask for visual rest breaks. Working on screens with a vision impairment can be tiring and cause visual fatigue. Taking a 5 minute break when you need to can help. Additionally, if glare if an issue you need to be seated where the light from the window doesn’t reflect on your screen. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to have a vision impairment. This is my area of work (with school children) and I teach them to self advocate as soon as possible. I would also echo a PP suggestion of contacting RNIB who have lots of support and advice available.