GNZ to focus on collaboration with eye care professionals,
government and consumer education
One of Glaucoma NZ’s biggest challenges is to reach as many of those 34,000 undiagnosed New Zealanders as possible each year to help prevent them going blind.
The three pillars of preventing blindness from glaucoma are; early diagnosis, commitment of patients to their treatment, and providing treatments that minimally interfere with a patient’s life-style. The new Chair of Glaucoma NZ (GNZ), Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer said to achieve these requires a multidisciplinary approach.
“Our mission is to eliminate blindness from glaucoma in New Zealand by providing education, public awareness and research into glaucoma. GNZ is in a strong position to achieve this.
“This year GNZ will be focussing on increasing collaboration with all professionals involved in eye care; optometrists, general practitioners, pharmacists and nurses. We plan to work closely with optometry on projects that will encourage the early diagnosis of glaucoma.
“We need to work with government so that early diagnosis through screening is an accessible and affordable option for all New Zealanders.
“Education is the key to the successful management of any chronic disease - including glaucoma. GNZ is committed to strengthening its educational programmes for patients and eye-care professionals,” she said.
Since its inception in 2002, GNZ has gone from strength to strength through the generous support of its patient base, sponsors, and eye care professional colleagues. GNZ has perhaps the most well–developed educational programmes of any charity of its kind. Its general Community Education provides free information via public seminars, information booklets, newsletters, and a website. Seventy-nine free public seminars have been held to date, from Whangarei to Invercargill, and every patient with glaucoma receives a free information pack and regular newsletters to keep them up to date with the latest on glaucoma.
“We consider it important that membership to GNZ is free, to encourage people to join and stay as informed as possible. Current membership is over 7,200 up on the 2007 figures of approximately 5,250.
“We are also very proud of our web-based Professional Education Programme for optometrists, and based on its success, a programme for general practitioners was launched last year,” said Prof. Danesh- Meyer.
GNZ recognises the importance of sustaining the momentum achieved to date and moving forward. Prof. Danesh-Meyer said that despite a lot being achieved in a relatively short space of time, GNZ is determined to achieve even more in the future in its fight against glaucoma.
“In this regard ongoing funding will be crucial, as it is the life-blood of any charity. So we will need to further develop our sponsorship and support base, and hope the public and professionals alike will all rally behind GNZ.
“We are absolutely passionate about the work we do and making a difference, but we can’t do it alone,” she said.
Professor Danesh-Meyer was appointed Chair of Glaucoma New Zealand at the end of last year, replacing Dr Ken Tarr who stood down after seven years in that position.
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