World Glaucoma Week comes to Fife!
By Philippa Mason, Development Manager (Scotland), Glaucoma UK
World Glaucoma Week ( 6–12 March 2022) is an important week for us at Glaucoma UK. As well as giving us a chance to raise awareness of the disease, it also gives Glaucoma UK’s Development Managers a chance to get out on the road and bring support, advice, and information to communities across the UK. This year, I took my mobile advice unit (otherwise known as my wobbly suitcase and overstuffed backpack!) to Fife.
Glaucoma is thought to affect approximately 700,000 people in the UK, but because the disease is largely asymptomatic, 50% of those who have it, are unaware. In most cases, glaucoma is painless and because it affects peripheral vision, rather than the central vision, often goes unnoticed. It’s these factors that lead to glaucoma being known as the ‘secret stealer of sight’.
The good news is that with regular eye exams, careful monitoring and appropriate treatment, the prognosis for glaucoma patients is better than ever before. Early detection and new treatments mean that glaucoma is being picked up earlier and can be slowed down, or even halted in its tracks by medications (eye drops), laser (SLT) and surgeries.
This year, seescape staff kindly welcomed me to their offices in Kirkcaldy where I provided training sessions on glaucoma, eye drops and dispensing aids.
Over the morning, I spoke to a variety of staff members from across the organisation and was bowled over by their enthusiasm, passion, and commitment. As well as information about glaucoma, we talked about how we could help people feel in control and self-manage their glaucoma and looked at the different eye drop dispensing aids that are available.
It was a pleasure to come to seescape and I hope this is just the start of a great relationship!
If you would like to find out more about glaucoma and the free help, advice and information available, please visit our website www.glaucoma.uk . If you would be interested in us setting up a free glaucoma support group in the Fife area, please let me know by emailing p.mason@glaucoma.uk .
You can also contact the Glaucoma UK helpline on 01233 64 81 70.