Glaucoma support groups
Meeting other people with glaucoma is a great way of sharing information and experiences. Support groups are also attended by health care professionals, so you’ll have an opportunity to speak with them in a relaxed atmosphere and ask the questions that matter most to you. Every group is different, but many also have guest speakers, run social events and arrange fundraising activities.
Upcoming glaucoma support groups

Croydon | Glaucoma support group (online or face-to-face)
Join other people with lived experience of glaucoma to talk all things about the disease. Where? Bedford Hall on Wellesley Road in Croydon. When? Monday 4 December 2023, 2.00pm–3.30pm. Registration: If you’d like to attend, please contact Gwyneth Evans-Patel on glaucomagroupcroydon@gmail.com to register your interest.

Preserflo and Trabeculectomy procedures for glaucoma | Digital Glaucoma Support Group (online)
Join our Digital Glaucoma Support Group titled “Preserflo and Trabeculectomy procedures for glaucoma”. We will be joined by Neeru Vallabh, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Senior Clinical Lecturer. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session. Registration: to join this webinar, register in advance by clicking here. You will receive a confirmation […]







Glaucoma and cataracts | Digital Glaucoma Support Group (online)
Join our Digital Glaucoma Support Group titled “Glaucoma and cataracts”. We will be joined by Mark Westcott, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session. Registration: to join this webinar, register in advance by clicking here. You will receive a confirmation email from Zoom. […]




South Shields | Glaucoma support group (face-to-face)
We will be hosting a glaucoma support group in South Shields on 5 February 2024. Glaucoma support groups are a great way to meet others who have been through similar experiences. A number of speakers will be attending, including Peter Holton from Glaucoma UK. Registration: If you’d like to attend, please contact Craig Riach on […]




Gateshead | Glaucoma support group (face-to-face)
We will be hosting a glaucoma support group in Gateshead on 9 February 2024. Glaucoma support groups are a great way to meet others who have been through similar experiences. A number of speakers will be attending, including Peter Holton from Glaucoma UK. Registration: If you’d like to attend, please contact Craig Riach on craig.riach@visionandhearingsupport.org.uk to […]







Glaucoma jargon busting | Digital Glaucoma Support Group (online)
Join our Digital Glaucoma Support Group titled “Glaucoma jargon busting”. We will be joined by Helen Doe, Helpline Manager at Glaucoma UK. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session. Registration: to join this webinar, register in advance by clicking here. You will receive a confirmation email from Zoom. If […]




Rochdale | Glaucoma support group (face-to-face)
We will be hosting a glaucoma support group in Rochdale on 15 February 2024. Glaucoma support groups are a great way to meet others who have been through similar experiences. A number of speakers will be attending, including Peter Holton from Glaucoma UK. Registration: If you’d like to attend, please contact Alba de Toro Nozal […]


What are digital glaucoma support groups?
Our digital glaucoma support groups provide a source of information, advice and support. We organised a series of support groups on a range of topics throughout lockdown. You can watch the recording of these sessions below.
Our digital support groups are brand new. We would be very interested to hear your feedback and ideas for future sessions.
Glaucoma UK digital support groups







Preserflo and Trabeculectomy procedures for glaucoma | Digital Glaucoma Support Group (online)
Join our Digital Glaucoma Support Group titled “Preserflo and Trabeculectomy procedures for glaucoma”. We will be joined by Neeru Vallabh, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Senior Clinical Lecturer. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session. Registration: to join this webinar, register in advance by clicking here. You will receive a confirmation […]







Glaucoma and cataracts | Digital Glaucoma Support Group (online)
Join our Digital Glaucoma Support Group titled “Glaucoma and cataracts”. We will be joined by Mark Westcott, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session. Registration: to join this webinar, register in advance by clicking here. You will receive a confirmation email from Zoom. […]







Glaucoma jargon busting | Digital Glaucoma Support Group (online)
Join our Digital Glaucoma Support Group titled “Glaucoma jargon busting”. We will be joined by Helen Doe, Helpline Manager at Glaucoma UK. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session. Registration: to join this webinar, register in advance by clicking here. You will receive a confirmation email from Zoom. If […]
Watch videos of past digital support groups




















































Glaucoma support group: Research – Vitamin B3
Professor Gus Gazzard, Director of Surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital and a Professor of Ophthalmology, joined us to discuss all the latest research into vitamin B3.
57:01



















































Glaucoma support group: Lived experience – our experience of eye drops
Karen Hirst, Rosanna Preston and Kate Philpot, all of whom have first-hand experience using eye drops, joined us to discuss some of the challenges they’ve faced as well as solutions they’ve discovered.
54:59



















































Glaucoma support group: What do you want to know about glaucoma?
In this session, we let you take the lead. Dr Scott Mackie, an Optometrist who practices in Glasgow, joined Robyn Asprey, Glaucoma UK Development Manager for Southern England, to answer your questions.
52:21



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Congenital glaucoma – how to talk to your child about their glaucoma
Glaucoma in children is rare but can present many challenges. Ellisha Solanki, an Orthoptist at Manchester Eye Hospital, joined us to discuss how to talk about the disease with young people.
37:04



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Q&A – surgery and laser
Laser is now the recommended first-line treatment for glaucoma, and other surgeries are common too. In this session, Glaucoma UK Chair, Prof Anthony King, answered your questions.
56:11



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Living with glaucoma – focus on mental health
In this session, we were joined by Amanda Hawkins, Head of Mental Health and Counselling at RNIB to discuss a topic that gets relatively little coverage when it comes to glaucoma care.
19:15



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Primary angle closure glaucoma
Primary angle closure glaucoma occurs because fluid is unable to drain away from the eye properly. In this session, Winnifred Nolan, an Ophthalmic Consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital, explained more about this specific type of glaucoma.
53:50



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Primary open angle glaucoma
Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the most common types of the disease. Rachel Hilton, Glaucoma Nurse at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, joined us to discuss care and management for POAG.
1:04:11



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma and driving – FAQs
In this session, our Glaucoma UK Helpline Manager, Helen Doe, answered questions about driving with glaucoma.
53:48



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Living with glaucoma – Tips and tricks from a person with glaucoma
Shared knowledge is a great way to ensure you have the best possible glaucoma journey and can keep doing the things you love. Here, Jo Knight talks through some of the tips and tricks she’s learned from living with the disease.
56:12



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Living with glaucoma – Charles Bonnet Syndrome
This session looked at the little-known Charles Bonnet Syndrome, a condition which causes people with over 60% vision loss to experience hallucinations. We were joined by Judith Potts, Founder of the Esme’s Umbrella charity.
56:27



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Types of glaucoma – pigment dispersion
Here, we discussed in detail what pigment dispersion glaucoma is, who gets it and how it’s treated. We were joined by Wi Siene Ng, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for NHS Wales.
1:00:03



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Research – The future of glaucoma treatments
In this session, Ophthalmic Consultant Andrew Tatham discussed all the latest research into glaucoma and what future treatments could look like.
59:49



















































Glaucoma Support Group: What is glaucoma?
Here, we were joined by Nishani Amerasinghe, an Ophthalmic Consultant from University Hospital Southampton, to give an introduction to what glaucoma is.
55:10



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma hot topics – Frequently asked questions
In this session, our Helpline Manager Helen Doe discussed some of the biggest topics about glaucoma.
1:03:07



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries
In this session, we were joined by Wai Siene Ng, Consultant Ophthalmologist, to tell us all about minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS).
59:03



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Living with congenital or early onset glaucoma as an adult
This session looked at the challenges and experiences of moving from child services into adult services. We were joined by Amba Smith, a young person with glaucoma, and Velota Sung, a Consultant Eye Surgeon.
51:38



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Changing glaucoma pathways – virtual clinics and community monitoring
James Morgan, professor of ophthalmology, joined us in this session to share his knowledge on the future of glaucoma care.
1:06:39



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Why is everything changing about glaucoma care except visual fields
In this session, we were joined by Professor Andy McNaught, Consultant Ophthalmologist. He discussed some of the recent changes to glaucoma care as well as some of the aspects that have stayed the same for a number of years.
58:40



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Patient experience of glaucoma surgery
Liz French joined us to talk about her personal experience of glaucoma surgeries. Liz has glaucoma in both eyes and has undergone various treatments to save her sight.
53:30



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma and genetics
This session addressed the latest research into glaucoma and genetics. We were joined by Anthony Khawaja, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Associate Professor at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.
1:02:50



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma surgeries
David Lunt, Consultant Eye Surgeon at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, joined us to explain the different surgeries used to treat glaucoma.
1:18:48



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Everything you ever wanted to know about glaucoma
Hari Jayaram, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, discussed some essential information about glaucoma including treatment options and ongoing research.
58:39



















































Glaucoma Support Group: How your pharmacy team can help you with your eye drops
Two practitioners from the ophthalmic pharmacy team at Moorfields Eye Hospital explained how the staff in pharmacies can assist you with your eye drops.
57:56



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Living well with glaucoma
Glaucoma UK member Jan Redman spoke about her own experiences of being diagnosed and receiving treatment for the disease.
1:05:33



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Normal tension glaucoma
This session addresses what normal tension glaucoma is and what being diagnosed with it might mean for you. We were joined by Gus Gazzard, Head of Glaucoma Service at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
33:42



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma and driving
This session provides clear information on how glaucoma can affect your driving vision, how this is assessed and how the processes involved work. We were joined by Dr Josie Fields, Clinical Lead and Director of the Plymouth Group of Specsavers stores.
1:04:41



















































Glaucoma Support Group: All about eye drops
This session, titled ‘All about eye drops’, was recorded on Wednesday 3 November 2021. Trish Ganszczyk, our own Glaucoma UK Helpline Advisor, talked about how to manage your eye drops and the different aids available to help you.
1:00:53



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma and cataracts
Our session ‘Glaucoma and cataracts’ was recorded on Tuesday 30 November 2021. We were joined by Pouya Alaghband, Consultant Ophthalmologist at York and Scarborough Hospitals NHS Trust.
1:03:15



















































Glaucoma Support Group: What is glaucoma and how can we help?
Our session ‘What is glaucoma and how can Glaucoma UK help?’ was recorded on Tuesday 31 August 2021. We were joined by Karen Osborn, former CEO of Glaucoma UK, who spoke about the basics of glaucoma, the services we offer and who we are as a charity.
1:04:30



















































Glaucoma support group: Laser treatment for glaucoma




















































Glaucoma Support Group: Are my eye drops not working or not going in?
Our session ‘Are my eye drops not working or not going in?’ was hosted on 20 September 2021. We were joined by Professor James E Morgan, Consultant Ophthalmologist at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
56:36



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Childhood glaucoma: a parent’s guide
Our session ‘Childhood glaucoma: a parent’s guide’ on 29 June 2021. We were joined by Mr Joe Abbott, Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmic Surgeon at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
52:51



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Who can help with my glaucoma?
Our session ‘Who can help with my glaucoma?’ was recorded on Thursday 11 March 2021. We were joined by Jo Fishwick and Alice Elliott, Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ELCOS) .
51:21



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma and Eye Drops (In Urdu)
Our session ‘Glaucoma and Eye Drops’ was recorded in Urdu on Wednesday 5 May 2021. We were joined by Nizz Sabir, an Independent Optometrist based in South Yorkshire.
16:30



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma research
Our session ‘Glaucoma research’ was recorded on Thursday 28 January 2021. We were joined by Dr Andrew Tatham, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at NHS Lothian.
1:00:16



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Living well with glaucoma
Our session ‘Living with glaucoma’ was recorded on Tuesday 11 May 2021. We were joined by Owen Williams from the Wales Council of the Blind and Rachel Hilton from the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.
59:03



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma and Eye Drops
Our session ‘Glaucoma and Eye Drops’ was recorded on Friday 19 March 2021. We were joined by Ms Angela James, Ophthalmic Pharmacist at NHS Lothian.
58:06



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Looking after your eyes during Ramadan
Our session ‘Looking after your eyes during Ramadan’ was recorded in April 2021. We were joined by Sally Ameen, consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at London’s Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
30:18



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma Surgery
This support group was held on Wednesday 13 January. We were joined by Mr David Lunt, Consultant Ophthalmologist at South Tees Hospitals, who spoke about the different types of glaucoma surgery.
1:04:40



















































Glaucoma Support Group: How to get the most out of your appointment
This support group was held on Wednesday 16 December 2020. Our speaker was Mr Mike Smith, Glaucoma Specialist from the Royal and Exeter Foundation Trust, who talked about communication in the glaucoma clinic.
52:14



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Dry eye disease
This support group was held on Wednesday 4 November 2020. We were joined by Mr David Lunt, Consultant Ophthalmologist at South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who spoke about Dry Eye Disease.
56:25



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma eye tests – How they work and what they tell us
This support group was held on Tuesday 17 November 2020. Our speaker was Lisa Cowan, Hospital Optometrist and Senior Specialist Glaucoma Lead for NHS Education Scotland, who talked about glaucoma eye tests.
54:33



















































Glaucoma Support Group: How COVID-19 is changing eye care
The glaucoma journey and how COVID-19 is changing eye care, was held on the 29th of July Mr Nick Strouthidis, consultant ophthalmologist and director of medical services at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
1:01:50



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma for the newly diagnosed
This support group, Glaucoma for the Newly Diagnosed, was held on the 16th of July, with Dr Hari Jayaram from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. You can watch it below.
1:09:27



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Glaucoma and eye drops
This support group was held on the 22 July 2020 with Dr Laura Crawley who spoke and answered questions from those who had signed up to attend.
59:31



















































Glaucoma Support Group: Driving and glaucoma
This support group, Driving and glaucoma, was held on the 04 August 2020 with Jonathan Clarke of Moorfields Eye Hospital, member of DVLA driver’s medical panel for vision.
1:00:20



















































Glaucoma Support Group: My Glaucoma is Getting Worse – What Might Happen?
Our support group ‘My Glaucoma is Getting Worse – What Might Happen?’ , was held on Tuesday 11 August 2020 with Mr Pankaj Agarwal of Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh.
1:03:27



















































Glaucoma Support Group: How does glaucoma ‘look’ and what’s Kate Moss got to do with it?
Our session ‘How does glaucoma ‘look’ and what’s Kate Moss got to do with it?’ on June 3 2021. We were joined by Professor David Crabb, Professor of Statistics and Vision Research at City University London.
1:04:20What our attendees think


I wish I had attended the group years ago, so thank you very much for inviting me along.
I immensely enjoyed the meeting. It was a lovely blend of new research information and practical, helpful tips for improving my glaucoma self-care.
I’m now looking forward to my next medical consultation where I can discuss my glaucoma with greater confidence.
For more information or to find your local support group, use the search tool (coming soon!), call our helpline on 01233 64 81 70 or email helpline@glaucoma.uk. We’re open 9.30am – 5.00pm on weekdays.
We hope to see you at a support group soon!


Setting up a support group
If you would like information on setting up your own Glaucoma Support Group, please download our ‘Getting started’ guide.


Running support groups
If you have already set up a Glaucoma Support Group and would like further information/help, please download our ‘Running a Support Group’ guide