Working with RVO
RVO does not need to prevent you from working; instead, measures can be taken to make you comfortable in the workplace.
These measures are similar for all macular diseases and include:
- Using the Access to Work scheme: to help provide you with the specialist equipment and arrangements needed.
- Taking a Work Capability Assessment: to determine whether you are able to work or eligible to claim a benefit in place of this.
The decision as to whether to work is for you to discuss with your doctor, considering what environments you can work comfortably in, what obstacles you may encounter at work, and what can be done to overcome these.
Helping others to understand RVO
It can be useful to inform others of your RVO, so that they can help you to implement the necessary changes to your daily life.
A good start can be to ask your doctor for patient information leaflets which you can share with others. These should explain the condition and the recommended changes to daily living.
You may find that many of those around you are familiar with similar macular conditions, such as wet AMD, as this is a condition that many people develop as they age.1
References
- 1. Macular Society. Age-related Macular Degeneration. Available at: https://www.macularsociety.org/macular-disease/macular-conditions/age-related-macular-degeneration/. Last accessed April 2025.