“It’s a really special year for the charity”

“It’s a really special year for the charity because we’re marking our 50^th anniversary,” Joanne Creighton, chief executive of Glaucoma UK, shared.

OT heard about the biggest milestones in Glaucoma UK’s history, and how the organisation has recognised the 50-year anniversary.

An early achievement in the history of the charity was a major campaign to establish the role of Glaucoma UK chair of ophthalmology for glaucoma and allied studies at UCL’s Institute of Ophthalmology.

The role is currently held by Professor David Garway-Heath, who is “widely recognised for his huge contribution to landmark glaucoma research,” Creighton said.

OT spoke to Garway-Heath earlier this year about research into pioneering glaucoma research. Watch the interview here.

“I also think that changing the name of the charity a few years ago was a key moment,” Creighton said.

The charity was established as the International Glaucoma Association but changed its operating name to Glaucoma UK to highlight the unique role the charity plays. The rebrand also more accurately reflects the nature of its day-to-day services.

“There are a number of organisations that work to fight glaucoma across the world, but we’re the only charitable organisation that is dedicated just to glaucoma support in the UK,” Creighton told OT.

The formalisation of a longstanding association with the UK and Eire Glaucoma Society (UKEGS), which officially became part of Glaucoma UK in 2019, was another key development.

“What is great about the partnership we now have, with UKEGS being part of the charity, is that it really underscores that essential connection between clinical excellence and the pastoral care needs of patients,” she explained.

The charity has spent 2024 recognising the 50^th milestone in a number of ways, including new awareness campaigns and outstanding fundraising challenges.

Creighton shared: “Perhaps the most important thing about the anniversary is the launch of a new research fellowship. It’s the first one the charity has ever done and we wanted something really special to make the occasion that would have a real lasting benefit for people living with glaucoma.”

The Pitts Crick Career Development Fellowship is a three-year post-doctoral fellowship for an early career researcher working in the area of glaucoma diagnosis or treatment.

Making a difference in glaucoma

“I would describe us as being determined not to be here when the next half century rolls around,” Creighton told OT.

“It might sound strange, but I think everybody who is connected with the charity would just love it if the research funding we provide were to lead to something that could either reverse glaucoma sight loss or perhaps more effectively prevent it in the first place,” she said.

The charity’s work is underpinned by two sustained impact goals, which Creighton explained as “ways we want the world to be different as a result of what we do.”

The first goal is for an increased awareness and earlier diagnosis amongst people who are most at risk of developing glaucoma.

The second is for those who have received a diagnosis of glaucoma to be able to live well and maintain their sight through equitable and timely access to effective clinical care and pastoral support.

Support for patients

Asked how practices can support Glaucoma UK, Creighton highlighted the support that the charity seeks to offer people with glaucoma, sharing: “I think the call to action would be to please use us as your pastoral partner.”

Patients will inevitably have questions or concerns that pop-up in the weeks after a consultation.

“For some, it can feel that the door out of the consulting room is one-way, that it is difficult to get back through it, and that can leave people feeling very anxious about where they go for help and advice,” Creighton said.

“We want people to have that comfort to know that whenever the query occurs to them, they can give us a call,” she added.

Sharing a message for practitioners, Creighton concluded: “We want to do our bit to support you too.”