Health Professionals
We value our relationships with healthcare professionals working in the field of glaucoma. Together we can fight this sight-stealing disease.
We provide support, resources and training for optometrists, ECLOs, rehab workers, domiciliary care workers and other health professionals.
Enhance your patient letters with information about Glaucoma UK
At Glaucoma UK, we’re dedicated to working with healthcare professionals like you to make a difference in the lives of glaucoma patients.
By incorporating our informative banners into your patient communications, you can have a significant impact on the support people receive outside of the hospital/clinic environment:
- Empower your patients: Signpost to glaucoma information resources, guiding your patients towards a better understanding of their condition.
- Increase awareness: Raise awareness of the charity, highlighting the support we provide in between their appointments with you.
- Build a supportive community: Together, we can foster a supportive community for those living with glaucoma, ensuring they don’t face their challenges alone.
It’s easy! Click the link below to download our banners and add them to your patient communications today.
Patient letter footer – white
Patient letter footer – purple
Resources to help you help patients
Free glaucoma information booklets
We produce a range of resources for professionals including information leaflets on a range of topics, and provide eye drops support boxes.
Visit the free resources section of our website to order free materials including information booklets, posters and helpline information cards.
Eye drops support boxes
Our eye drops support boxes are a great resource to maximise eye drop adherence and are essential resources for anyone involved in promoting better adherence and self-management.
Each box comes with one of each of the major drop aids available, plus a briefing containing basic information about the different major eye drop types and when to use them. There’s a matrix to help you find which dispensing aid works with each eye drop.
Professionals will also receive our detailed guide titled ‘Helping people with their eye drops and dispensing aids’.
We provide these cases FREE to NHS and charity organisations providing free advice to those using eye drops for glaucoma or dry eye disease. To order please email professionals@glaucoma.uk
Personal Glaucoma Monitoring Record
Glaucoma UK worked with Santen to produce a Personal Glaucoma Monitoring Record – a small handy diary for people with glaucoma or those at risk of developing it. The Record – or Orange Book – contains insights and tips, and space to record all the information needed to help people with glaucoma – and the clinicians working with them – to monitor and manage their glaucoma.
The Monitoring Record and all our other information booklets are free to order.
Glaucoma research
Each year we provide a range of research funding opportunities for glaucoma research. Find out more about our grants making process, research we’ve funded in the past and current funding available.
Professional training
We offer bespoke training for professionals who are looking after those with glaucoma.
We help a range of professionals who are looking after people living with glaucoma, including ECLOs, rehab workers, domiciliary care workers and other social care staff. We can offer training on any glaucoma-related topic you may have. From general information about managing the disease to putting in eye drops and using dispensing aids, we can tailor sessions to your specific needs and format the training to meet your requirements. For more information, contact our Professional Engagement Leads at professionals@glaucoma.uk or sign up or free to become a Professional Member of Glaucoma UK.
UKEGS Conference
The jewel in our professional calendar is the annual UK and Eire Glaucoma Society (UKEGS) conference. UKEGS is a learned society, formed to advance excellence in glaucoma care, academic learning and training.
Commissioning patient-centred services
To say the pandemic disrupted normal patient care would be an understatement. However, now might be the golden window of opportunity to build more patient-centric glaucoma services. You can help commissioners not just tackle the current backlog, but also enhance the patient experience and pathway.
- Sign up to the Eye Care Hub on NHSFutures and take a look at the Roadmap
Take a look at:
- The SAFE guidelines from the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning
- The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch report into lack of timely monitoring of patients with glaucoma
- The implementation guide of the EyesWise 100 (patient) Voices Report
Help to set up a glaucoma support group
Glaucoma Support Groups are a key part of our support for people with glaucoma. We’re keen to help you set up new groups, and can provide advice, help with promoting your events, and even start-up funding to help you get your group off the ground.
Things to consider when helping people with glaucoma
Diagnosis
- Remember, someone only hears about their diagnosis of glaucoma once. Take your time when talking to people to explain things at their speed.
- People often stop listening at “you may lose your sight.” Give people written information for them to take away with them. We think our leaflets are great!
Eye drops and treatments
- What help are you offering with eye drops? Don’t assume an individual has understood everything about how and why to use drops. Make sure support is made available, every time a patient visits the eye clinic.
- Are you asking questions, particularly about eye drops, in an open and non-judgemental way? People might be embarrassed to admit they haven’t been using eye drops every day as prescribed. It’s common to have problems with eye drops, but patients may not want to “make a fuss.” Encourage them to talk openly about issues such as side effects.
- What resources are available to help someone with their eye drops? Would a dispensing aid help? What about an eye drops calendar?
Appointments
- It’s really nerve-wracking coming for appointments – people will be concerned they have lost more vision. What can you do to put people at ease or reassure them?
- Appointment delays are sadly all too common. If you are delaying an appointment, have you explained why? It could be reassuring for someone to know their appointment has been delayed because they have been deemed lower-risk.
Become a free professional member
Become a member of Glaucoma UK and join the fight against glaucoma!
Becoming part of our glaucoma community as a professional member means you’ll be the first to hear about events that we think will interest you. You’ll also receive our email newsletter, hear about our latest activities, research and grants, campaigns, support services and new patient resources, fundraising, and how you can support our sight saving work.