Campaigns

Glaucoma awareness campaign

Summary: Information about RNIB's major glaucoma awareness campaign.

• Latest news
• Background
• Glaucoma
• The campaign
• Case studies
• Campaign report
• Support us
• Further information

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Latest news

Thursday 6 March 2008 is World Glaucoma Day. During the day an alliance of charities, glaucoma specialists, professional organisations and researchers are raising awareness of glaucoma, what it does to sight and how it might affect you.

Glaucoma Knowledge week - 19-25 November 2007

Find out what new evidence has emerged in the past 12 months. Topics include:

• epidemiology
• screening
• current trends in medical management
• optic disc imaging - diagnosis and disease monitoring
• optic disc imaging - photographs
• assessment of visual field progression
• patient education
• living with glaucoma and low vision service.

'Don't stop the drops' - a report, 'Don't blame the patient', launched on 16 January 2007, states the reasons why more than 200,000 people in the UK are needlessly losing their sight to glaucoma.

Background

RNIB's major national campaign is to raise awareness of glaucoma - the leading cause of preventable blindness in the UK. The campaign was launched in May 2005 and toured the country raising awareness about glaucoma.

Glaucoma

In the UK some form of glaucoma affects about two in 100 people over the age of 40 and five in 100 people over the age of 75. Our research shows that four out of five people have heard of glaucoma but that their understanding is limited, especially about the groups of people who are at higher risk of developing the condition. These are:

• people of African or Asian origin
• people with close relatives (father, mother, brother, sister) who have the condition
• people over 40
• people with very short sight (severe myopia).

Glaucoma has no symptoms in its early stages and up to 40 per cent of useful sight can be lost before a person realises they have the condition. Regular eye tests are crucial in detecting glaucoma early. Once diagnosed, treatment involves using eye drops and as long as the programme is followed, further sight loss can be minimised.

The campaign

The glaucoma awareness campaign was launched at a House of Commons event on 24 May 2005 and was followed by a 13-city exhibition tour throughout June, July and August. Broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, writer and comedian Jenny Eclair as well as other celebrities are supporting the campaign.

Exhibitions were held in shopping centres around the UK. Printed materials were available as well as people on hand to answer questions.

Case studies

• Mandy's story
• Aruna's story

Campaign report

Our campaign report 'Tunnel vision' reveals that more than half a million people in the UK have glaucoma and that more than 200,000 people have lost their sight through the condition despite treatment being available. It makes recommendations to improve the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma in the UK.

Read the Tunnel vision report executive summary (Word) 36KB. The full campaign report is available from our online shop or from Customer Services on cservices@rnib.org.uk or 0845 702 3153.

Support us

We would like to hear from you if you have glaucoma. We are looking for people to feature as case studies to help others understand more about the condition. Contact us at campaign@rnib.org.uk to find out more.

Further information

More information about glaucoma and eye tests

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 07/03/2008 11:43