Thank you for your support of Glaucoma Awareness Month 2025.
You may have donated to support awareness initiatives, shared a Glaucoma NZ post on Facebook or said to someone “Did you know it’s glaucoma awareness month?”. This, and acitivty like it, adds up to encourage an early glaucoma diagnosis. And this could SAVE SIGHT.
What happened during March 2025?
You and people like you were invited to take on a two minute challenge using free cardboard glasses that simulate vision loss from glaucoma.
Glaucoma NZ enlisted the help of Ambassador Patrick ‘Paddy’ Gower. He helped to get the word out about the challenge and about the importance of eye health checks.
Six brave and wonderful people living with glaucoma also shared their experience through a series of videos. Thank you John, Karen, Neil, Lisa, Miles and Estelle.
Glaucoma awareness pieces featured in mainstream media and on social media channels.
The most important activities that happened this month were conversations about eye health, all started by You. You started conversations with your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. And you shared how glaucoma affects your day-to-day life.
Who took part in raising awareness in March 2025?
Workplaces, office workers, school children, health professionals and families took part. This included people who live with glaucoma, and people who don’t. Special shout out to Mitre 10 Mega Tauranga that took part!
You wanted to spread awareness in your workplace, in your family and you wanted to learn more about glaucoma for yourself. Below are direct comments from you.
“My dad has glaucoma so I would like to know what seeing is like for him.”
“My grandad and my mum both had glaucoma…I thought I would take the glasses to show [my sister] and try to have a conversation with her about getting her eyes checked.”
“…will definitely get others trying the glasses for themselves to spread awareness, hopefully bolstering early health checks, while also garnering empathy for those experiencing glaucoma already.”
“I am the H&S Officer and would love to do a promotion on this for our staff.”
“Our wellbeing topic for May will be eyes and glaucoma.”
” I would like my friends and family to understand what my vision is like.”
“I really want to my family to see what I’m going through with my glaucoma”
” I am interested in seeing how I may be affected by this disease in the future.”
The public and health professionals alike took part and continue to take part.
“I’m a Nurse Practitioner with older people. Planning to use these for awareness”
“I would be keen on a few free pairs of these glasses to use as teaching aides for our Health Care Assistants in training.”
Where did the campaign reach?
- Radio New Zealand (national radio);
- Seven Sharp (national television);
- NZ Optics (national magazine for eye health professionals);
- The Northern Advocate (Northland);
- Silverdale Mall news (Hibiscus Coast);
- Health with Helen (Waiheke);
- Sunmedia (Bay of Plenty);
- Uniquely Nelson news;
- Healthy Christchurch news;
- Radio Wanaka and more!
Those of you who requested glaucoma simulation glasses live all over New Zealand and others live as far as Dublin and the United States of America (International!).
This extra special message came in from Optometrist Rebecca in Napier:
“Hi there,
Just wanted to provide some positive feedback on Glaucoma Week Ads and how beneficial it is at getting patients in for overdue eye exams! I had a patient who was not only overdue for an eye exam but also for their Diabetic Retinal Screening who saw the ad and had a thought to call in and make an appointment. Luckily no glaucoma found but there were other eye conditions found and addressed which would not have been possible if she wasn’t prompted by the ad!
Thanks so much for all you guys do, keep up the mahi! 😊”
When does this campaign finish?
Glaucoma education and awareness doesn’t finish with the end of Glaucoma Awareness Month 2025. It’s just the beginning of more conversations about glaucoma and spreading awareness of the silent theif of sight. We need your help to keep the campaign going (find three ways to help here).
Why is this important?
When you do the challenge with others, you start important conversations about glaucoma. It raises questions like… Are you at risk of glaucoma? When was your last eye health check? Could you be missing subtle changes in your vision?
You might connect with someone who is unaware they live with glaucoma. Your conversation could encourage an eye health test. You could save their sight.
Thank you once again for your support, lets keep the awareness going. Request a 2-minute challenge pack or resources from Glaucoma NZ.