A sudden change in Trish’s vision
In 1988, Trish woke up one morning and couldn’t see out of one eye. There had been no warning. She described it “like a curtain coming down,” the result of a retinal detachment that was later repaired with surgery. A few years later, in 1991, she was diagnosed with glaucoma.
Learning to live with glaucoma
“I was very, very upset at the time,” Trish says. “But as the years have gone by, I realise I’ve been lucky. My check-ups are regular and the decline has been slow.”
More than three decades on, she has learnt to balance glaucoma with a full and active life. A former teacher, Trish now works in a disability care home, trains agility dogs, goes to the gym three times a week, and enjoys line dancing with friends. “I try not to let it stop me from doing anything,” she says.
A long-distance routine
Each year she travels from Invercargill to Christchurch for specialist appointments – a routine she has long accepted.
Building community and connection
Trish started the Invercargill Glaucoma Support Group. Wanting to make things easier for others living with glaucoma, she offers locals space to meet and share their experience. “You can feel isolated at times and to have people who you can share stories with is always helpful for morale,” she says.
It is something you may relate to, that feeling of relief when you can talk to someone who truly understands what living with glaucoma is like. Glaucoma NZ has a service that builds on that same sense of connection, offering one-on-one support for members. It’s called SiGHTWiSE, and you can read about it later in this Eyelights issue.
The power of shared experience
Trish values connection and shared experience. Knowing there are others who understand makes all the difference. Her enthusiasm has brought others on board, including a friend from line dancing who also lives with glaucoma. Together, they volunteered at the Invercargill Care Expo, raising awareness of glaucoma and inviting others to join the support group.
Living well while managing glaucoma
For Trish, living with glaucoma means staying connected and doing what she can to look after her sight. “I never miss my drops. I keep fit, eat well, and do what I can to slow it down,” she says. “You kind of accept it. This is life now, but you can still live it fully.”
Thoughts on SiGHTWiSE
We asked Trish what she thought of Glaucoma NZ’s SiGHTWiSE programme which offers one-on-one support.
“It would be really good to be able to ask as many questions as needed and not be under time pressure or feel like you’re a nuisance,” she says.
Trish believes a one-on-one support programme can help people like her, who live far from their specialist and want reassurance between visits. “Sometimes you just need someone to talk to about what’s normal and what’s not,” she adds.
No one has to navigate glaucoma alone
This story is a reminder that while every glaucoma journey is different, none of us have to go through it alone. It echoes the reason SiGHTWiSE was created.