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.

Can you ask your workstation to be moved to a more private area, in the corner or something, where people aren't continually walking past and seeing/commenting on your screen?

Have you seen occupational health? Would a larger screen (width ways) allow you to see the whole of the page you need? Or at least the full width of the page? Your employer should be providing things like this as a reasonable adjustment.

Maybe speak to the RNIB about up to date assistive technology? They have a team you can speak to who may be best placed to advise you.

https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/assistive-aids-and-technology/everyday-tech/

I worked with a lady who was blind with a tiny pinhole of vision and she had all sorts of technology made available to her for different programmes - not all of them could be used with Dragon software for example, but there were a mix of options available to her for her specific needs.

I'm sorry you're struggling with the diagnosis and living with this, it sounds hard. Are you also claiming PIP? That might help you buy bits and pieces you need for home and work?

Would you qualify for Access To Work funding? Disabled people and their employers can use this to buy tools and equipment they need to help them access work effectively - eg special software.

www.gov.uk/access-to-work

You'd be surprised what suddenly becomes possible when it's a member of senior management/HR telling them it's necessary, compared to a mere employee.

Because you haven't told them you have vision problems.

A deep sigh and "are you always this challenging towards people with a disability/eye problems/poor eyesight/visual impairment?" (delete as appropriate) might work. And then tell your LM you feel you're being picked on because you are. It's reasonable to ask once, just in case they have some knowledge of how to make the text bigger or something and they can help you out, but after that it's just haranguing you for no reason at all.

Of course you're not a failure.
It's not your fault.
In fact I'd say you're trying very hard.

Ps my eyesight is very poor , I always say if I can't see something. No one has ever commented.

There’s a difference between using glasses for a common eyesight problem and having to use specialist equipment for a condition which disrupts your eyesight and can be considered a disability. Would you tell a blind person they should use glasses ? No ? Thought not. So why are you telling someone who clearly has more than the usual eyesight problems to suck it up ?

Speaking as a service designer (what you are using) and as a disability and accessibility expert - what your employer is forcing you to do is almost definitely illegal. Very illegal.

Jesus, that post you quoted is HORRIBLE!

I had to give up badminton due to my eyesight issues. My friend said "that's why you wear glasses though!". Well, no, actually. The glasses are for my long sightedness, short sightedness and to an extent astigmatism. They don't, and can never, compensate for the loss of vision due to a retina repair a few years ago nor correct sight loss from a hole in my macular.

Yep. I was a disability outreach worker in another life and my first thought was that this can’t possibly be legal. OP should declare a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and ask for reasonable adjustment as well as access to work funding for an appropriate system which wont potentially exacerbate existing problems.

100%. I have been building and rebuilding systems and services since 1999, the equality act is very very clear - you just can't give someone an experience like this anymore, you haven't been able to for decades really. OP - go to HTR and make a formal complaint, this is literally illegal.

Yep. Agree. You’d also be surprised what’s possible if/when OP declares a disability and asks for reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act in the form of new equipment - possibly provided under access to work if the employer can’t foot the bill. It’s not a good sign that her boss seems to be unaware of employer responsibility under the Act - OP effectively declared a disability affecting her work when she told her boss the difficulties with the equipment. And if people are commenting like this, that’s also not on and could possibly be seen as harassment. OP is talking about not being able to hold on to the job much longer if this carries on, and I would think she has a great case for constructive dismissal if that happens without the situation being addressed.

Speak to your manager and ask for occupational health they should supply you with a larger screen for that useless system. And accommodate others showing you on your screen.

You need to speak to someone and get it sorted out. Nobody can work in those conditions

Have you tried adding speak to word?