PEOPLE with glaucoma are being invited to a support group meeting run by Worcestershire’s ophthalmology team.

A meeting of the group run by the team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust will be held at Worcestershire Royal Hospital’s Charles Hastings Education Centre from 10am on Friday, September 4.

The subject of the meeting, which will be led by the trust’s clinical director for ophthalmology Tarun Sharma, will be ways of reducing discomfort caused by eye drops.

Mr Sharma said: "Receiving a diagnosis for such conditions can instil many worries and concerns in patients and some find it difficult to focus on the questions they need to ask at the time of their consultation in hospital.

“Around 15,000 people in the UK are affected by glaucoma and related conditions. Our support group is a great way of bringing people together to learn from and help each other.

“Previous meetings have proved really successful with good feedback from those who attended.

“The overall aim is to help improve outcomes of glaucoma interventions and improve the quality of life of all glaucoma patients and their relatives.”

Guest speaker Mr Shabbir Mohamed, consultant ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Birmingham, will also be attending to offer his advice and knowledge to the group.

The group has been running since 2009, when it was set up by Mr Sharma along with glaucoma specialist nurse Sara Ruck and co-ordinator Sally Hunter.

Earlier this year the team received an award for the Best Glaucoma Ophthalmology Unit from the International Glaucoma Association.

Friends and families are also welcome at the free meeting to increase their understanding of the condition and get advice from the team of eye-health experts.

For more information call 01905 733 715.