Educating on ‘the silent thief’

Specsavers front of house practice staff have been expanding their knowledge on glaucoma ahead on World Glaucoma Week this week (11–18 March).

The multiple hopes that upskilling its staff will help raise public awareness of the sight threatening condition that is sometimes referred to as ‘the silent thief’ of sight.

It is estimated that 700,000 people have glaucoma in the UK, yet research in Specsavers and the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s (RNIB) 2017 State on the Nation Report found that 50% of cases are undiagnosed. 

In partnership with the Glaucoma Association, the multiple has developed a training programme for its clinical assistant and retail teams. The programme focuses on how staff can best assist glaucoma sufferers with their treatment and includes how to effectively administer eye drops.

With the aim of having at least one person on the shop floor trained by World Glaucoma Week, Specsavers confirmed that more than 2500 staff have completed the programme.

Some practices have ensured all staff have completed the training. In Pembroke Dock, all 22 employees have taken part. Director of the practice, optometrist, Andrew Williams, said: “Being able to better support our customers with glaucoma is a really positive development for our team and we are very proud that everyone has taken part in this training.”