The Two Minute Challenge That Could Save Your Sight

The countdown is on until 01 March which marks the start
of New Zealand’s annual Glaucoma
Awareness Month.

Glaucoma is a disease of the optic
nerve which is commonly referred to as the ‘Silent
Thief Of Sight’ because without warning it can cause
permanent vision loss. The disease can affect anyone at any
age and cannot be reversed but it can be managed effectively
in most cases if it is caught early enough. It is estimated
that 65,000 New Zealanders currently have glaucoma but are
not aware of it.

This March, Glaucoma New Zealand
(GNZ), are asking Kiwis to invest two minutes of their time
to understand a little more about glaucoma by taking their
free, easy, two-minute challenge.

The charity has
created cardboard glasses which demonstrate what it may be
like to experience glaucoma. Some impacted by glaucoma say,
for them it means bumping into people or things and or
wearing sunglasses inside, but the experience is different
for everyone.

The two minute challenge
invites people to wear these glasses once during March for
just two minutes as part of their normal daily routine such
as walking the dog, making a sandwich or scrolling on a
phone.

Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer,
Chair of Glaucoma New Zealand and a leading authority on
Glaucoma says; “We hope that the two-minute challenge will
start conversations throughout New Zealand about glaucoma
that may not have otherwise occurred. If we can save the
sight of just a handful of Kiwis our March awareness
campaign will have been worth the effort.”

Glaucoma
New Zealand Ambassador, broadcaster, Patrick Gower says;
“I urge you to join me in taking this simple, two-minute
challenge which can be done anytime, anywhere, by anyone
throughout New Zealand. I can’t stress enough the
importance of prioritising eye health and having regular eye
health tests, particularly for those over 40. I know
first-hand what damage glaucoma can do.”

The GNZ
two-minute challenge does not involve tantalising prizes but
the reward is priceless. You may be saving your sight or
that of a loved one by encouraging them to get into the
habit of booking a regular eye health check with their local
optometrist which coincidentally only takes about two
minutes! Professor Danesh-Meyer added; “The heartbreaking
thing for eye health professionals treating advanced
glaucoma is that permanent vision loss could have been
avoided in most cases. With today’s technology, glaucoma
can be identified by optometrists as part of regular eye
health checks and if treated early enough glaucoma can be
stopped in its’ tracks.”

Those at highest risk of
developing glaucoma are usually over 40 years old and or
have a family history of the disease but this is not always
the case. Glaucoma New Zealand are hoping to raise much
needed funds this March to alert and educate those who are
unknowingly affected by this insidious disease.

To
request your free two-minute challenge pack during March
visit www.glaucoma.org.nz

Notes: 

World Glaucoma
Week, a global initiative to raise
awareness and encourage testing for glaucoma takes place
from 9 – 15 March.

•  More about GNZ’s
  two-minute challenge
•    The free challenge
  pack is a set of three pairs of glaucoma simulation glasses.
  They represent early-stage, moderate-stage and advanced
  glaucoma. All challenge packs will be distributed following
  the launch of Glaucoma Awareness Month on the 1st of March
  2025. 
• Participants are provided with a
  pre-paid envelope and are encouraged to return the glasses
  to GNZ after they have taken the challenge so that they may
  be reused, avoiding
  landfill. 

 Background on Professor
Helen Danesh-Meyer, CNZM, MBChB,
MD, PhD, FRANZCO

 Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer
(Auckland based), Companion of the NZ Order of Merit, is an
international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology
and one of the most highly regarded experts in her eld.
She has established glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology
research at the University of Auckland, is the Head of the
Optic Nerve and Glaucoma Research Unit of the New Zealand
National Eye Centre and is a founding Trustee and current
Chair of Glaucoma New Zealand, a charitable trust for the
prevention of blindness from glaucoma. She is also Chair of
The Vision Research Foundation.

Background on Glaucoma
New Zealand

• In New Zealand there are
  approximately 65,000 Kiwis currently living with glaucoma
  unknowingly.
•  Glaucoma New Zealand is a
  membership charity that helps people impacted by glaucoma
  get access to the information and support they need. Their
  national   office provides professional education
  that empowers health professionals to accurately diagnose,
  treat, and manage glaucoma.
•    
   Glaucoma New Zealand’s services
  include:
•      Enhancing public
  awareness about glaucoma.
•     Supporting
  and informing people with glaucoma.
•    
    Educating eye health workers to assure high quality
  services. 
•   Supporting & funding
  glaucoma
  research.

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