Today on The Eye Care Advocate, we are proud to feature a guest post from Dan Morgan-Williams, founder of Visualise Training and Consultancy. Dan examines the hidden barriers that face employees with visual challenges and the importance of a holistic approach to support. For more information on visual impairment workplace assessments, you can contact him via his website: https://visualisetrainingandconsultancy.com/.

The Background: An Employee in the Spotlight

Gavin is a confident, sharp-witted HR Officer in a busy office. He lives with photophobia, a condition where bright or artificial light causes significant discomfort, eye strain, and headaches. He also has reduced contrast sensitivity. This means that bold colours and clear outlines are crucial for him to navigate both screens and physical environments effectively. For Gavin, effective visual impairment workplace assessments are not just a formality, but a necessity for him to thrive in his role.

His desk was situated directly under a row of bright overhead lights. He joked to colleagues that he often felt like he was “being interrogated by MI5”. To cope, he resorted to wearing sunglasses indoors, but his productivity was dipping – he found himself working late to make up for time lost to debilitating migraines and severe screen fatigue.

The Initial Assumption: A Simple Fix?

On the surface, this seemed like an easy fix. The obvious problem was the lighting. So, the company took what seemed like a logical step: they installed a dimmable desk lamp and turned off the harsh overhead strip light above his desk. End of story?

Not quite. This is a common pitfall when considering support for employees. A superficial change is made, but it fails to address the root cause, which is why comprehensive visual impairment workplace assessments are so crucial.

The Deeper Issue Revealed by Visual Impairment Workplace Assessments

Despite the lighting change, Gavin still seemed uncomfortable. He wasn’t using the new lamp and had even repositioned his monitor so the lamp wasn’t facing him at all. He continued to wear sunglasses and started avoiding team meetings, especially those held in brightly lit meeting rooms or conducted via video calls where colleagues used harsh ring lights.

During one of the specialist visual impairment workplace assessments carried out by Visualise, it became clear that the lighting wasn’t the only problem — it was a combination of multiple environmental and cultural factors:

• The light-coloured office walls reflected the harsh light from other areas directly into his eyes.

• His computer had a glossy screen with poor contrast settings, exacerbating the glare.

• Video calls added an extra layer of visual stress from the ring lights used by his colleagues.

• Crucially, he felt embarrassed asking for adjustments during meetings and worried about being seen as “the awkward one”.

The Real Solution: A Holistic Support Plan

Gavin’s support plan needed to be multi-layered, moving beyond the obvious and addressing the real, interconnected barriers he was facing. The outcome of the visual impairment workplace assessments led to a holistic solution.

Technology: Matte screen filters and high-contrast display settings were implemented to reduce glare and improve his screen comfort immediately.

Environment: His desk was moved to a part of the office with more diffused natural light. Simple wall panels were added to reduce reflectivity from the walls.

Personal Aids: He received a lightweight, discreet visor that looked more like a sporty cap than medical equipment. This was something he felt much more comfortable and confident wearing in meetings.

Culture: Colleagues received brief visual impairment awareness training, so they understood how lighting and screen setups can affect people differently. This removed the stigma and made the team more inclusive.

Empowerment: Gavin was supported in developing a simple script to advocate for his needs in meetings (e.g., “Would you mind just adjusting your ring light slightly?”), making him feel more confident in speaking up.

The Outcome: Visual Impairment Workplace Assessments See Beyond the Obvious

Gavin no longer works late. He attends all meetings comfortably. His migraines have decreased significantly, and he is now using his experience to help champion more inclusive practices in the company’s HR policy review.

The key takeaway is that sometimes the issue isn’t just “the lighting” – it’s the culture, the environment, the technology, and the unspoken pressure to fit in. A great workplace assessment looks beyond the obvious and unpacks the real story. Effective visual impairment workplace assessments don’t just change a desk lamp; they can change a career.

To find out more about how specialist holistic workplace assessments can support you and your team, visit Visualise Training and Consultancy.

About the Author

Visualise Training and Consultancy Ltd was established in 2014 by Daniel Williams, who founded the company despite experiencing gradual vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa.

What began as a focused approach centred on sight loss and its associated challenges has since grown to encompass all forms of sensory loss.

Daniel has also written ““But I Don’t Do Low Vision”: Moving Beyond Magnification” for The Eye Care Advocate – available to read here.