Glaucoma UK is a small charity but has a big impact!

Radio 4 In Touch: Glaucoma UK experts answer your questions

Karen Osborn, Chief Executive at Glaucoma UK, and Gus Gazzard, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye hospital and member of Glaucoma UK’s Clinical Advisory Panel will be answering listeners’ questions about glaucoma tonight (22 September 2020) on Radio 4’s In Touch at 8:40 pm. 

Karen and Gus will answer listener’s concerns and questions on glaucoma topics including information about glaucoma medication shortages after the Brexit transition and information about laser treatment. 

Tune in to Radio 4s In Touch programme this evening to hear the discussion or listen on-demand after the show here.

National Eye Health Week 2020 is here!

We’re launching a new campaign for National Eye Health Week (21 – 27 September 2020) to give people living with glaucoma and dry eye disease confidence that their diagnosis shouldn’t hold them back from taking part in digital activities.

Please click here for further information.

Do you have glaucoma? We would love your input!

We would love to hear your opinions and experiences of attending virtual glaucoma clinics during lockdown. How is the experience different to normal? What is good, bad or just worth commenting on? Please send comments to helpline@glaucoma.uk.

Are you interested in getting involved in filming discussions? This is for a series of webinars we’re doing, presenting patients’ experiences. You would be paired with someone else who has glaucoma, and have a guided conversation about your experiences of having glaucoma and attending appointments/receiving treatment etc. It would take around 2 hours of your time, and be done via Zoom or other video chat software. If interested or to find out more, contact Joanna Bradley on j.bradley@glaucoma.uk.

We’re also doing work on improving our booklets and other written information to make them easier to read. We need input from people with glaucoma to ensure we’re explaining everything really clearly and simply. To get involved, please contact helpline@glaucoma.uk. If you ever find health information (provided by Glaucoma UK, doctors or anyone else) difficult to read, we especially want to hear from you!

Thank you.

Interview | Sore eyes from screens? Here's what your optometrist says

Thanks to the coronavirus lockdown, lots of our usual activity is now taking place via screen, from keeping in touch with friends and family, through to collective worship and yoga sessions. You might be concerned about the impact all this screen time has on your eyesight, particularly if you have a diagnosed disease like glaucoma or dry eye disease (DED). Fortunately, neither condition should stop you from enjoying any screen-based activity.

Joanna Bradley, Head of Support Services at Glaucoma UK, spoke to Stephen Epstein, optometrist, glaucoma patient and the vice-chair of Glaucoma UK, to find out more.

How does the use of screens affect your eyesight, if at all?

When you’re looking at a screen and concentrating, you blink less often and, sometimes, less completely. Your eyes constantly make a tear film which nourishes the front surface of the eye. When you blink the tear film is spread over your eye. If you’re not blinking enough, the front of your eye can start to feel uncomfortable....

Good news! Driving licence expiry extension

During July, the EU agreed to grant a 7-month extension to drivers whose photocard licence or entitlement to drive expired between 1 February and 31 August 2020.

The DVLA is pleased to advise that the EU has agreed to increase the catchment period to 31 December 2020 and increase the extension period from 7 months to 11 months. This means that drivers whose photocard or entitlement expires between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2020 now have an 11-month extension from the date of expiry.  Please see table below:

Drivers do not need to take any action as the extension will be automatic. Drivers do not need to renew their licence until they receive a reminder before their extension expires.

If a driver has already applied to DVLA to renew their photocard or their entitlement, they can continue to drive while DVLA is considering their application, providing they have not been told by their doctor or optician that they should not drive.  Further information is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.

However, drivers do not need to apply to renew until the extension expires – we will write to drivers to remind them to renew when the times comes.

By law, all drivers must ensure they always meet the medical standards for fitness to drive when driving. Information about driving with a medical condition is available on GOV.UK

Ready to run a marathon?

UPDATE: Places now allocated. If you’re interested in taking part in future running events please email fundraising@glaucoma.uk.

Have you or anyone you know ever wanted to run the London Marathon? Well now’s the chance – well, sort of. The physical event is cancelled for non- Elite participants but as this year is the 40th anniversary of the ‘World’s best marathon’, organisers are offering a virtual race on 4th October. It’s the marathon but with a twist.

Participants will have 24 hours to complete the 26.2 miles in their garden, park, usual running route, etc from 00:00 to 23:59 on Sunday 4 October.

They can run, walk, take breaks and log their race on a new London Marathon app. We can request places in this virtual event for runners to take part and raise funds in this landmark, 40th race. ...

Determining possible ocular symptoms in people who have experienced other symptoms indicative of Covid -19

Anglia Ruskin university are running an online survey about whether the pandemic has had an impact on the management of eye disorders for patients, and whether it has caused undue stress and anxiety.

If you would like to take part, please click here.

Moorfields: Proposed new centre for eye care, research and education

Today sees the launch of a public planning consultation, which sets out the early designs for the new centre for eye care, research and education. As we progress our plans, we want your views on these early designs. This feedback will be essential in helping us design a centre that is modern, fit for purpose and accessible for users.

You can find out more information on how to have your say on the get involved page of the Oriel website.

“I’m excited to get out on my bike for the Prudential Ride, and raise some much-needed funds for Glaucoma UK.”

Take part in My Ride London on 15th and 16th August.  There’s something for everyone and everything with wheels – whatever your age or ability, you can take part.

To join Joanna sign up here

“I’ve enjoyed cycling for years – it’s a great way to explore the countryside, visit lovely places and get some exercise. I’ve also done some cycling holidays in the past, including through Central America and South East Asia – nothing helps you soak up a landscape like pedalling through it. Doing exercise is a key part of staying healthy, and there’s some evidence that regular exercise can help lower eye pressure – so hopefully I can look after my eye health at the same time.”
“The money we help raise will ensure we can continue to support people with glaucoma, raise awareness of the disease and fund research into its prevention, causes and treatment. Can you pledge to join me, by getting out on 15-16 August for some exercise or donating some money to help save sight?”
Joanna – Head of Support Services- Glaucoma UK

Digital Support Group: Driving and Glaucoma

Our brand new digital support groups allow you to attend from the comfort of your own home and have your questions answered.

Are you interested in attending one of our upcoming meetings? Sign up here

This support group, Driving and glaucoma, was held on the 04 August with Jonathan Clarke of Moorfields Eye Hospital, member of DVLA driver’s medical panel for vision.

Update on developments regarding DVLA’s driving licence services.

As a result of the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, Ministers at the Department for Transport have agreed to adopt a temporary measure to assist drivers in complying with the driving licence renewal requirements.

To make it easier for drivers who need to renew their photocard licence or their entitlement to drive, where their licence expires between 1 February 2020 and 31 August 2020, they will now have a 7-month extension from the date of expiry. This means that they will not need to renew their photocard or entitlement to drive until seven months after the original expiry date. The extension is automatic so drivers do not need to take any action.  The driver record will show the current expiry date on the driving licence, the record will be updated once an application is made to renew the licence at the end of the extension period.  At the end of the extension period they will be sent a renewal reminder form to complete.

If a driver has already applied online to renew their photocard this will be processed as normal.

This extension applies to all full licence renewal applications including short period medical licence and lorry and/or bus renewals. However, it does not apply to provisional driving licences or where the licence needs to be renewed following a disqualification.

By law, all drivers must ensure that they always meet the medical standards for fitness to drive when driving. Information about driving with a medical condition is available on GOV.UK .  If a driver has already applied to DVLA to renew their photocard or their entitlement, they can continue to drive while DVLA is considering their application, providing they have not been told by their doctor or optician that they should not drive.

Further information has been published on GOV.UK advising drivers of this temporary measure: www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla

The glaucoma journey and how COVID-19 is changing eye care

Our brand new digital support groups allow you to attend from the comfort of your own home and have your questions answered.

Are you interested in attending one of our upcoming meetings? Sign up here

This support group, 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, talks about the glaucoma journey, and how it may change as a result of COVID-19.

Digital support group: glaucoma for the newly diagnosed

Our brand new digital support groups allow you to attend from the comfort of your own home and have your questions answered.

Are you interested in attending one of our upcoming meetings? Sign up here

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.

Watch our digital support group about glaucoma eye drops

The way we are meeting and interacting is changing. That’s why we recently launch our new series of digital glaucoma support groups. Information, advice and support is now just a video meeting away. Watch the recording our our latest support group below. And, sign up to attend one of our upcoming meetings to have your questions answered.

Our latest digital support group was hosted by Dr Laura Crawley who spoke about about glaucoma eye drops and answered questions from those who had signed up to attend. Watch it here:

Glaucoma UK professional members make The Ophthalmologist Power List 2020