Andrew McClean: What is the message of Glaucoma Awareness Week 2021?
Karen Osborn: With so many people having been unable to see their loved ones due to the pandemic, the importance of family and friends has been brought into sharp relief. With lockdown officially ending in the next few weeks, many of us are looking forward to spending much needed time with loved ones over the summer.
For those people with glaucoma, being with family is especially important. Not only does it allow them to openly discuss with their close relatives the family link with the disease, it also allows their loved ones to offer them much needed support for living well with glaucoma.
As part of Glaucoma Awareness Week 2021, which will run from June 28 to July 4, we at Glaucoma UK want to emphasise the importance of family and loved ones. We’re aiming to highlight the hereditary risk factors of glaucoma and to let families and friends of people with the disease know we are here to offer help and support, both to them and to those living with glaucoma.
AM: Why is it important to highlight the hereditary nature of glaucoma?
KO: There are no early symptoms of glaucoma, so up to 40% of the peripheral vision can be lost without even noticing. Any member of a family can develop the disease, from grandparents to grandchildren. For example, primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is the most common childhood glaucoma and is a life-long condition. Children are born with it and it’s usually diagnosed soon after birth as it tends to be more obvious. At the other end of the age spectrum, around 10% of over 75-year-olds in the UK live with chronic open angle glaucoma.
Genetic factors are considered to play a key role in all major forms of glaucoma. Studies have shown that if a close blood relative has glaucoma, such as a parent or sibling, then a patient’s risk of developing the disease is four times higher. It is, therefore, important that close relatives of people with glaucoma have regular eye health checks at least every two years.
AM: What are the key facts patients should note about glaucoma?
KO: One key point is that glaucoma can be symptomless. If left untreated, it can lead to irreversible sight loss and even blindness. Over 700,000 people in the UK have glaucoma, and half don’t know they have it. Most patients experience no symptoms of the diseases in the early stages and the only way to know if someone has glaucoma is to have a sight test.
Another is that anyone can develop glaucoma but there are several risk factors that make glaucoma more likely. As mentioned previously, close blood relatives are four times more likely to develop the disease so it’s vital for them to have regular eye tests. There are also other factors that make patients at higher risk of developing glaucoma, including age and ethnicity. Individuals of African-Caribbean origin, for example, have about a four-times higher risk of primary open angle glaucoma compared to those of European origin.
The final thing I want glaucoma patients to know is that there’s support available for them. Glaucoma UK is here to provide help, information and support to anyone living with glaucoma or caring for someone with the disease.
Posters are highlighting the hereditary risk factors of glaucoma
AM: What activity is happening during this year’s event?
KO: There are lots of ways optical practices can get involved in Glaucoma Awareness Week. Most importantly, you can help us spread the word. We’ve created a whole host of new resources for you to use during the week, from social media posts you can share on your own channels to posters you can print and display in practice. You’ll find everything you need on our website at glaucoma.uk/GAW2021.
We want to end preventable glaucoma sight loss and that starts with raising awareness of the disease. You can help us start the conversation about glaucoma by discussing it with your patients, colleagues and your own family. We’re encouraging people to organise events such as online themed quiz nights and socially distanced picnics with dishes made from food that can help promote healthy eyes to get the conversation going.
If you’ve got patients who are parents or carers for children with glaucoma, please encourage them to sign up for our upcoming digital support group titled ‘Childhood Glaucoma: A parent’s guide’. The session is being hosted by Mr Joe Abbott FRCOphth, a consultant paediatric ophthalmic surgeon and lead for glaucoma since 2012 at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. They can register for the event on our website at glaucoma.uk/events.
AM: How did Covid-19 affect glaucoma patients?
KO: Covid-19 has had a severe impact on eye health services for patients with glaucoma in England. In collaboration with Wilmington Healthcare, we compared figures from 2019 with those from 2020 and found that the number of referrals for glaucoma fell dramatically in 2020, in addition to a reduction in surgeries and outpatient appointments. The research, which was pro bono work produced by Wilmington Healthcare and featured data from NHS Digital and Specsavers, is available to view and download on our website, glaucoma.uk/covid-19-impact.
Key findings from the study were that the number of referrals from optometry into hospitals for glaucoma had been reduced by almost 70% in 2020 compared to 2019. This was according to data from both NHS Digital and Specsavers. There was also a noticeable reduction in surgery, with trabeculectomies falling by 47% and MIGS procedures by 42%. This was particularly concerning as the backlog will need to be addressed, which will create more delays and could mean a patient’s vision may have deteriorated further before they receive the treatment they need.
The pandemic has been a challenging time for all, with people experiencing difficulties across the board, and glaucoma care has been no exception. Many of the people we support have struggled with appointment delays and cancellations. Those we’ve spoken to have been anxious about the impact these delays may have on their treatment. If any healthcare professionals are in touch with glaucoma patients who could benefit from talking to someone about their concerns, we urge them to direct them to us for support.
AM: What tools are available to optical practices that want to get involved with awareness week?
KO: Glaucoma UK is encouraging healthcare professionals to get involved in Glaucoma Awareness Week by displaying posters for the campaign and sharing social media posts, to spread the word and show their support for patients. All of the resources needed to make this happen are available to download on our website. It would also be a great idea if optometrists could encourage their front of house staff to familiarise themselves with the information about glaucoma on our website. This may help staff feel more able to chat with patients and their loved ones about glaucoma and other linked conditions, such as dry eye.
We’re also urging patients to start the conversation with relatives about the importance of regular eye tests. Family and friends can get involved too by brushing up on their knowledge of the disease, using Glaucoma UK’s many services including information booklets, digital support groups and community forums, with the aim of better supporting their loved ones. Practitioners can find more information about this year’s Glaucoma Awareness Week on our website or join the conversation on social media using #GlaucomaAwarenessWeek.
AM: How have optical practices participated in previous years?
KO: Opticians have helped us to promote Glaucoma Awareness Week by displaying our campaign posters in their surgeries and waiting rooms. They have also made sure they were fully stocked up on all of our leaflets and information booklets about glaucoma, so that they are able to provide these to patients. We’ve also seen some brilliant fundraising initiatives over the years, with opticians holding events to raise money for Glaucoma UK to ensure we’re here for people whenever they need us. From charity golfing tournaments to staff breakfast events, if you’ve got an idea that you think could be done safely, get in touch with us at fundraising@glaucoma.uk and we’ll do everything we can to help your fundraising be a success.