A sight-saving mission
It has been all systems go at Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital for World Glaucoma Week (9-16 March) to raise awareness about the world’s leading cause of preventable, irreversible blindness.
Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases where vision is lost due to damage to the optic nerve. Without medical intervention, it can cause irreversible vision loss.
The hospital held a community information session with free eye pressure tests and an education session for trainee nurses, with thanks to Orthoptic Student Educator, Kirsty Somerville McAlester, and Ophthalmology Clinical Nurse Consultant, Joanna McCulloch.
The Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation has also gone live with a new app which will help people with Glaucoma keep on top of their medication, reducing the chances of vision loss from low medication compliance.
“The good news is that, for many patients, treatment can halt the damage,” says Dr Ridia Lim (pictured left), Head of the Glaucoma Unit at Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital.
“The earlier the diagnosis, the more sight there is to save and the less likely the person will become blind.”
The need for testing could not be greater – half of people living with Glaucoma don’t realise they have it. Dr Lim explains this is because Glaucoma causes no symptoms until it is advanced, but meanwhile, silent damage is being done to the optic nerve.
The successful treatment of Glaucoma is also dependent on close adherence to the treatment regime. This week’s launch of the Sydney Eye Drop Project is aimed at supporting patients to do so.
The Project includes two initiatives: the Sydney Eye Drop Chart, a simple visual aid that patients receive after their consultation or hospital stay; and the Sydney Eye Drop App, a user-friendly reminder system that notifies the patient to take their drops and help patients stick to their eye medication.
Kim Gardiner (pictured right) has a unique personal and professional perspective, as an optometrist and patient living with Glaucoma.
“The Sydney Eyedrop Project is a fantastic initiative which helps both myself and my patients keep on top of our medication.
“As we all know, life gets busy, so it is incredibly helpful to have these resources which couldn’t be easier to use. I have found it incredibly helpful.”
The Sydney Eye Drop App is available on the Apple App Store now. Work is underway to launch the app for Android devices, and in other languages. The community information session was delivered in partnership with Sight for All and the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, with special thanks to Vision Australia.
Published 17 March 2025
