A highly successful national glaucoma awareness campaign was held over the summer of 2005. This was launched at the House of Commons on 24 May and followed by a tour of 13 cities around the UK (Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich). The campaign had three main elements, a shopping centre exhibition, professional's meetings and community meetings.
A 'Glaucoma Advice Centre' exhibition was held in local shopping centres where staff from RNIB and local blind societies were on hand to answer questions and distribute printed materials. Typically 250-300 people visited the stand at each location.
In each city, meetings with eye care professionals were held to discuss the latest developments in the delivery of care for patients with glaucoma. The meetings generated considerable discussion on improving services in each region by reducing waiting times for hospital appointments, improving medication compliance and accessing groups in the community at higher risk of glaucoma.
Meetings with community leaders were also held to highlight that people of African or African Caribbean descent and people with a family history are more likely to be affected by the condition.
Engaging politicians was also an important aspect of the campaign. A number of local MPs visited the stand including the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt MP, who came to the Shires Shopping Centre in Leicester and met Steve Winyard, RNIB's Head of Public Policy. Patricia Hewitt expressed concern at the long wait some glaucoma patients are experiencing for follow-up appointments and promised to take action.
Parliamentary launch
Our Glaucoma Tour and campaign to raise awareness of Glaucoma was launched at the House of Commons on 24 May. It was hosted by David Heath MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment. The event was highly successful with over fifty MPs attending and offering their support.
We also asked MPs to sign Early Day Motion 164 calling on the Government to increase publicity around the benefits that a regular eye test can have in detecting eye diseases such as glaucoma, leading to early intervention and the saving of sight. To date 112 MPs have added their names.
MPs' support
David Lepper MP
Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper backs RNIB's glaucoma campaign. David says "My personal reason for backing the campaign is that my brother has glaucoma so I know the importance of regular checks. I had a test for glaucoma in Brighton just two weeks ago and got the all-clear"
John Baron MP for Billericay and District said "The RNIB's campaign deserves our fullest support because glaucoma can lead to blindness if not treated. I would urge everyone to have a regular sight test"
Andrew Stunell MP
Andrew Stunell MP said "Glaucoma can lead to blindness if it is not treated, and is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the UK. I am concerned that everyone in Stockport gets their eyes tested at least every two years. This helps to ensure that conditions like glaucoma are detected at an early stage, so people can get treated. I support RNIB's campaign and wish them well with their national tour"
Annette Brook MP
Annette Brooke MP for Mid Dorset and Poole North also offered her support "200,000 people nationally have lost their sight through glaucoma and we need to do more to raise public awareness of the condition, especially amongst people with a family history of glaucoma, and people from African backgrounds, who are more at risk"
Peter Luff MP
Peter Luff MP for Mid Worcester helped back the campaign in Parliament and wants to see everyone have an eye test at least every two years. "We need to do more to raise public awareness of the condition" he said
Quiz machine
We also offered MPs the chance to test their awareness by taking part in our quiz machine. This asks six questions and offers three options for each answer. Although awareness among MPs was good, it is now better!
Shopping centres
Many hundreds of people as well as local MPs and MEPs have visited the shopping centre stand at the various locations we have already visited.
A couple in their 50s had heard the BBC radio interview and came along to the stand in Bristol. Both the mother and grandfather of the husband had glaucoma. He had not had his eyes tested since 1997 but left the stand to go and make an appointment with an optometrist.
A 72 year old man approached the stand and said he had not had an eye test for four years but after talking with us was going to go and have one that same day.
Children also visited the stand end enjoyed taking part in the quiz. They also experienced the effects of glaucoma to their sight.