Employment After Vision Loss

Experiencing vision changes that affect your job can be stressful and overwhelming. You might be grieving your vision loss while wondering, ‘How can I keep working?’ or ‘How will I support myself?’

There are ways to adapt and thrive—both during and after vision loss. You can learn how to communicate with your employer and explore resources that support continued employment, including workplace accommodations, vocational rehabilitation, and vision rehabilitation services.

You’re Not Alone

You’re not alone—and your career isn’t over. Many adults experience vision loss later in life, and with longer life expectancies and rising retirement ages, more people than ever are navigating these changes while staying employed.

To learn how others work in various fields, check out our Employment Stories and Career Conversations, which feature people who are blind or have low vision thriving in the workforce.

Your first instinct may be to consider early retirement or to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). While those are valid options for some, don’t assume right away that you can no longer do your job. With training in assistive technology and alternative techniques, many people with low vision or blindness continue to succeed in their roles.

Reasons to Keep Working

While facing vision loss can be challenging, there are many meaningful reasons to continue working that go beyond income alone.

The chance to be around other people

The opportunity to continue to learn new skills

Receiving health insurance or other benefits

Continuing to prepare for retirement

Continuing to feel valued

Wanting to be productive

Additionally, you have much to offer an employer:

A proven work history and a strong work ethic

Lifelong work-related skills

Job-related education and training

Typically, no dependent children at home who require care

Interest and attention to safety issues (less likely to take chances which may result in injuries)

If staying in your current job is your goal, it may be more achievable than you think—and often easier than trying to re-enter the workforce later.

Recognizing Vision Loss at Work

To effectively adapt and maintain your productivity, it’s important to first recognize how vision loss may be affecting your workday. Becoming aware of specific changes in your visual functioning is an important step toward finding solutions. Signs to look out for include:

Difficulty reading or visually focusing on tasks

Trouble recognizing colleagues or clients

Inability to see facial expressions or when someone is waving to you

Increased sensitivity to light or glare

Difficulty seeing in dimly lighted areas

Difficulty distinguishing contrasts or colors

Trouble filling out and rereading pre-printed forms

Reduced peripheral vision or depth perception

Bumping into objects that are out of place

Frequent headaches, eye strain, or neck strain

Everyone’s experience with vision loss is unique. Recognizing your challenges is a first step toward adapting your workspace and routines.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Your Support Team

Communicating your needs is essential—but it’s okay if you’re not sure what those needs are yet. Vision changes can be disorienting, and it takes time to figure out how to perform tasks in new ways. Fortunately, there are professionals trained to help you through this process.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselors offer support tailored to your specific needs and workplace environment. In some states, VR services are provided by an agency that specializes in serving individuals who are blind or have low vision. Others offer them through a general disability agency that supports all people with disabilities.

A VR Counselor can:

Refer you to blindness-specific training, such as mobility (travel training) or assistive technology instruction

Help identify the tools, equipment, and accommodations you may need

Coordinate funding for accommodations—some of which your employer may be legally required to provide

Support you during conversations with your employer

Facilitate workplace assessments to ensure your job site is accessible

Your VR Counselor is a key partner in helping you maintain or return to work with confidence and the right support.

Specialized Services to Support You at Work

The people with diverse backgrounds talking at a desk in front of a laptop

Here are some of the professionals your VR counselor can connect you with:

Orientation and Mobility Specialists:
Provide training on navigating safely using senses other than vision. They can help you learn to plan travel routes, use public or paratransit transportation, and work with a long white cane or other mobility aids.

Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRTs):
Teach nonvisual or low vision techniques for daily living, workplace tasks, accessible medication management, and communication methods such as touch typing and braille. They can also conduct workplace access evaluations.

Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVTs):
Assess your needs for lighting, contrast, and print size. They recommend and train you to use handheld magnifiers, video magnification systems, and other optical devices. They can also help you understand the long-term outlook of your specific eye condition.

Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists for People with Visual Impairments (CATIS):
Provide instruction in using assistive technology, including computer and mobile access tools. They cover software such as screen readers, magnification programs, and braille displays.

These professionals may work with your Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor to identify your needs, create a customized plan, and help you access the training and tools to support your success at work.

Your Rights Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects employees who are blind or have low vision. It requires private employers with 15 or more employees and all state and federal government agencies to provide reasonable accommodations that enable employees to perform their essential job duties. This means your employer may need to adjust your work environment, tools, or responsibilities to ensure you can continue doing your job effectively.

Talking with Your Employer About Your Needs

It’s completely normal to feel nervous about speaking with your employer—but initiating the conversation early can help you avoid misunderstandings later on. When you clearly express your needs, it shows that you care about your role and want to continue contributing to the organization.

Planning ahead and approaching the conversation with clarity and confidence can make all the difference. The next few sections will guide you through how to prepare, what to say, and how to work collaboratively with your employer to find solutions that support your continued success at work.

Understand Your Eye Condition and Its Impact at Work

Before you can advocate effectively for yourself on the job, it’s important to understand your eye condition and how it affects your ability to work. Start by gathering detailed information, including:

The cause of your vision loss and its long-term prognosis

How your vision affects your ability to perform current job duties

Whether you’ve had a low vision exam by a Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT), who can help determine whether tools like magnifiers, task lighting, or video magnifiers could support your work

During the evaluation, be specific about your job responsibilities. If you spend time on a computer, need to see objects at a distance, conduct lab work, or manage paperwork, explain what aspects of your job are becoming challenging. The more detailed you are, the more accurately the specialist can recommend tools and strategies tailored to your vision and your essential job tasks.

Consider Workplace Adaptations

Be proactive when speaking with your employer. Chances are, they have limited experience working with someone who is blind or has low vision. That’s why it helps to come prepared by identifying the areas where you’re facing challenges and suggesting possible solutions—even if you don’t have all the answers yet.

An environmental workplace assessment conducted by VR can help you develop a plan to make your environment more accessible. This plan can serve as a blueprint to help you continue working successfully.

Before meeting with your employer, ask yourself:

Do I need to re-label materials in large print, braille, or use a magnification device?

Would repositioning my desk reduce glare or improve lighting?

Would task lamps or better lighting help with reading or detailed work?

Would screen magnification or a screen reader help with computer tasks?

Can I exchange certain tasks with coworkers that better match my current abilities?

Are there essential duties (like driving or handling chemicals) that require special attention?

These questions can help you pinpoint what supports you need and start a productive conversation with your employer.

Common Workplace Accommodations

As described under the ADA, employers must provide reasonable accommodations that support employees who are blind or have low vision. Here are examples commonly used in the workplace:

Screen readers (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver) that read digital content aloud

Magnification software (e.g., ZoomText), which enlarges text and enhances contrast beyond the standard built-in screen magnifier

Speech-to-text programs (e.g., Dragon, Windows Speech Recognition)

Accessible telephones with large, high-contrast buttons or voice control features

Adjustable lighting and anti-glare filters, or repositioned workstations to reduce eye strain

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools to convert printed material into spoken words, enlarged text, or braille

Larger or multiple monitors to improve text visibility

Braille or raised print signage for identifying rooms and permanent locations

Slant boards to bring documents closer and reduce neck and eye fatigue

Flexible scheduling, such as modified start and end times, to accommodate transportation needs

Your employer may not be familiar with these tools or strategies, so it’s helpful to come prepared with information. Early, open communication—and regular check-ins—can go a long way in creating a supportive and accessible work environment.

Transportation and Safety

Getting to and from work is often a top concern for individuals with vision loss. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialists and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists can help you build confidence and skills for safe, independent travel.

O&M Specialists can:

Help you plan and navigate safe routes to and from work, as well as around your workplace

Teach you how to use public transportation confidently

Identify paratransit services available in your area

Introduce travel aids such as a long white cane or orientation apps

Vision Rehabilitation Therapists can provide instruction on using assistive devices and apps for navigating with reduced or no vision.

With the right training and tools, you can manage your commute and workplace mobility with greater independence and assurance.

Leverage Technology and Computer Access

If your work involves a computer and your vision is changing, assistive technology can be a game-changer. These tools can help you stay productive, independent, and connected in the workplace.

Depending on your needs and preferences, available tools may include:

Built-in accessibility settings, such as Windows Narrator and macOS VoiceOver, for screen reading and navigation

Third-party software like JAWS, NVDA, and ZoomText for screen reading, magnification, and contrast enhancement

Braille translation programs to convert digital content into braille output

Accessible cloud-based platforms such as Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, which include built-in accessibility features—like keyboard shortcuts and screen reader support—designed to reduce reliance on visual tracking

With proper training, these technologies can make your digital work environment fully accessible.

Gaining Support Through Peers

In addition to leveraging access technology, connecting with others who are blind or have low vision can provide support through encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support. Organizations such as the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) offer opportunities to meet others who are living and thriving with vision loss. Through peer networks, online communities, and support groups, you can hear real-world experiences, learn strategies that have worked for others, and be reminded that you’re not alone in this journey.

Self-Advocacy: A Skill for Success

Self-advocacy is a key part of adjusting to vision loss and staying successful at work. In the early stages, it’s normal to feel unsure, but your experiences—both what has helped and what hasn’t—are valuable. Share this with your employer to help shape effective solutions. As you learn more about your needs, continue to speak up for what works. Advocating for yourself is not just about asking for help—it’s about building a collaborative path forward.

In Conclusion

Before meeting with your employer, take time to prepare what you want to share. Focus on how your vision changes are affecting your work and what support or accommodations could help you remain effective. You don’t need to disclose your full medical history—just the information relevant to your job. Framing the conversation around your commitment to your role and your willingness to find solutions shows initiative and professionalism. With preparation and the right support, you can continue to thrive in the workplace.