Road Safety Week will run from 19 to 25 November 2023 and Glaucoma UK, a registered charity that provides support for everyone living with glaucoma is encouraging people to keep their vision road-ready. Glaucoma, also known as the silent thief of sight, damages the peripheral (off centre) parts of people’s field of vision first and this damage can go unnoticed.
The campaign aims to highlight the importance of regular eye tests to ensure road safety as glaucoma can be symptomless and the only way to find out is to have an eye test. Driving with glaucoma is a concern for those who live with the disease and the key to safeguarding people’s vision and the safety of others is through routine eye tests. To deliver the campaign messaging, Glaucoma UK have placed petrol nozzle ads at stations in cities where there is less uptake of eye tests.
Glaucoma UK’s Chief Executive, Joanne Creighton, said: “While driving is important for your freedom and independence, it is crucial that you can see enough to be safe on the road. As glaucoma sight loss usually starts affecting the peripheral vision, you may not realise that it is slowly stealing your sight. This is why the Road Safety Week campaign encourages people to get their eyes tested, to ensure they keep their vision road-ready. Early diagnosis is key when it comes to protecting your sight from glaucoma.”
An updated version of the booklet ‘Driving and glaucoma’ is also available, with improved accessibility and covers all four nations of the UK. The booklet contains frequently asked questions for many people with glaucoma and explains when and how to contact the DVLA or DVA. Similar to all of Glaucoma UK’s booklets, it is free and available on the website or via the helpline.
