
MR ALEX BANEKE - OPHTHALMIC SURGEON - CATARACT & GLAUCOMA

Living with Glaucoma
For most people, glaucoma is a slowly progressing condition, and with the right treatment, many won’t notice a significant change in their vision. While glaucoma can cause some challenges, the good news is that most patients will not go blind. However, it’s important to be aware of how glaucoma can affect your daily life, especially as it progresses. In this guide, we’ll explain what it’s like to live with glaucoma, the impact on driving, and the support services available to help you.
Visual Field Loss
Glaucoma primarily affects your peripheral vision, but in the early stages, many people won’t notice any changes. This is because the visual field loss often happens gradually, and one eye can compensate for the other. Additionally, the brain has an amazing ability to “fill in” gaps in your vision, meaning you might not realise you have any problems until the disease has advanced.
Driving and Glaucoma
Driving with glaucoma depends on how your visual field is affected. If you have glaucoma in one eye but normal vision in the other, you don’t need to inform the DVLA for car or motorbike licences. However, if both eyes are affected, or if one eye has glaucoma and the other is affected by a different condition, you must inform the DVLA and take a special visual field test for driving called the Esterman test. This test is done with both eyes open, and most people find it easier than the routine visual field tests performed in clinics.
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Fortunately, about 9 out of 10 people pass the Esterman test. If you don’t inform the DVLA and are involved in an accident, you could be fined or prosecuted. For those with a bus, coach, or lorry licence, you must inform the DVLA even if only one eye is affected by glaucoma.
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Medical professionals are required by law to inform the DVLA if a patient with glaucoma refuses to do so themselves.
Support Services and Charities
If you’re living with glaucoma, there are many support services and charities that can help.
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Glaucoma UK and the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) provide advice, information, and courses on living with sight loss. They offer guidance on financial help, technology, employment rights, and caring for someone with sight loss. They also have helplines and websites for more information.
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Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) are available at most hospitals to provide direct support for patients experiencing vision loss. Ask your eye doctor for a referral to your local ECLO for help with accessing services and advice.
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Low Visual Aid Clinics offer tools and devices to help you manage day-to-day activities. If you are registered as sight-impaired or severely sight-impaired, you will also receive a needs assessment to help identify useful adaptations for your home.
For more details on local services, the RNIB’s Sightline Directory offers links to resources for blind and partially sighted individuals.
Living with Glaucoma: Daily Activities
Research has shown that people with glaucoma in both eyes may find certain daily activities more challenging than those without the condition. For example, patients with visual field loss in both eyes may experience more difficulty with tasks like walking or reading. They may also walk more slowly and have an increased risk of tripping or falling, particularly if the lower part of their visual field is affected, which can make it harder to see steps or obstacles.
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Patients with glaucoma in only one eye tend to manage well with most day-to-day activities, as their vision in the unaffected eye compensates. However, as glaucoma progresses and affects both eyes, you may notice more difficulty navigating spaces or reading, and certain medications, like beta-blockers, may lower blood pressure and increase the risk of falls.
Help available for those with Sight Impairment
If you are registered as sight impaired (SI) you may be entitled to these benefits and concessions:
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Free postage
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Free NHS eye examination
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Disabled person’s railcard
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Reduced/free bus fares
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Free directory enquiries
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Cinema pass for a carer
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Protection under Equality Act
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Assessment by Social Services
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Those registered as severely sight impaired (SSI) are additionally entitled to:
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Blind person’s tax allowance
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TV licence fee reduction
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Blue badge (car parking)
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You may also be eligible for additional benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, and Universal Credit.
Living with glaucoma doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the things you enjoy, but it’s important to be aware of how the condition might affect your vision, particularly as it progresses. Regular check-ups, following your treatment plan, and taking advantage of the support services available can help you manage your condition and maintain a good quality of life.
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For further information, don’t hesitate to reach out to charities like Glaucoma UK or the RNIB, or speak to your local Eye Clinic Liaison Officer for personalised advice and support.