Working with sight loss
If you started to lose your eye sight, I’m sure one of your first thoughts would be whether or not you could continue to do your job.
This was exactly what went through the mind of 34-year-old Giragammanagedera Mangala, who has worked as a Relief Officer at Kandy Hospital (a Sightsavers partner) in Sri Lanka for nine years.
Losing her job
When the mother-of-one began to lose her vision through macular degeneration, her husband gave up his permanent job in the Sri Lanka Army in favour of becoming a mason, so he could be around more to support her. She was certain the Medical Board would recommend the termination of her employment, leaving her with a monthly allowance for the foreseeable future.
However, when her vision was assessed at the low vision unit (established by Sightsavers in 2002), the Consultant Ophthalmologist instead recommended that the eye unit would be a suitable working environment, and thought there was no reason why she shouldn’t continue to work there.
Her new role
Now she works as a nurse aid in the operation theatre of the unit. Her current job includes escorting/guiding patients from the waiting room to the theatre, preparing patients for surgery, sorting used linen, and drying and storing gloves.
I am very happy in my working environment even though I can feel my vision gradually deteriorating
Her sight loss is likely to continue until she is totally blind, but the unit is happy to continue to support her in this role as long as she is happy to continue working there.
“Working has been very challenging,” she says. “But the support of the doctors and the staff has helped me to continue. Now I am very happy in my working environment even though I can feel my vision gradually deteriorating.”
What do you think?