Father and son navigate life with glaucoma together

Shared vision: Father and son navigate life with glaucoma together

Glaucoma UK is a charity dedicated to supporting people living with glaucoma across the UK.

They’re getting ready for Glaucoma Awareness Week, an annual awareness raising campaign, which will run from 24–30 June.

This week aims to raise awareness of glaucoma and the importance of attending routine eye tests. Wayne and Gethin Bebb, father and son based in Wales, are sharing their glaucoma story to inspire people to learn about their own family’s eye health history.

Wayne Bebb has always known that glaucoma runs in his family. “My gran, my mother, my aunties and cousins all have glaucoma. It’s quite prolific in our family. My gran went blind from glaucoma, and my mother, who was diagnosed at birth, started losing her sight in her late 30s.” Wayne was also diagnosed with glaucoma at birth, “Glaucoma has always been a part of my life. When I was young, I wanted to learn all about it, so I became an expert in a way.”

An estimated 700,000 people in the UK have glaucoma, and half of them don’t know they have it. This is a statistic that Glaucoma UK, the charity for people with glaucoma, is determined to change. During this year’s Glaucoma Awareness Week, the Bebb family is sharing their story to encourage individuals to learn about their family’s eye health history and to help protect their future vision.

While anyone can get glaucoma – which is usually first spotted with a routine eye examination – people with a family history of the condition are at least four times more likely to get it.

Now a father himself, Wayne understands the importance of discussing glaucoma with his children and other family members. “It’s a conversation I constantly have with my family. My eldest son lives away, and we also have relatives living abroad. We often talk about it, and I remind them to have regular eye tests so glaucoma can be detected early. It’s a topic I regularly bring up with them because they’re at increased risk due to our family history.”

The family was shocked earlier this year when Wayne’s 13-year-old son, Gethin, was diagnosed with glaucoma during a routine eye test.

This diagnosis made Gethin the third generation in their family living with the disease. “I was quite surprised when I found out I had it. I didn’t really know what glaucoma was or what the side effects were. Although it was sort of expected since it runs in the family, it still shocked me a bit,” Gethin shared.

He is now passionate about encouraging others to get their eyes examined regularly. “Just take the eye test. Routine eye tests now could mean the difference between being able to see 10 years from now. You might think it’s just a waste of half an hour, but it’s worth it. If my dad had never asked me to get my eyes checked, I wouldn’t have known that I have glaucoma.”

Gethin’s diagnosis and subsequent treatment has impacted on his day-to-day life, he said, “Glaucoma has had a big impact on my daily life. I have to take eye drops every day and take time out of school for hospital appointments. I was quite stressed and panicked at first when I got my diagnosis. I thought I would need an operation right away, but I didn’t. Although the eye drops sting a bit, it’s not too bad.”

Wayne and Gethin’s shared experience with glaucoma has deeply influenced their relationship. Wayne takes on the role of a supportive father, ensuring Gethin stays on top of his eye care regimen. “As a dad, my priority is to remind him about his eye drops,” Wayne shares. “During the initial diagnosis, he was understandably stressed, but I offered reassurance and tried to ease his fears. We’re still navigating this journey together. Gethin has also asked me a million questions, and I’ve done my best to address each one—it’s just part of the process.”

Gethin, in turn, is grateful for his father’s unwavering support. “Dad has been a constant source of reassurance, always there to lend a hand and remind me about my eye drops,” Gethin acknowledges. “At first, I thought he was nagging, but now I understand the importance of regular treatment.”

Wayne’s advice to parents concerned about their children’s risk of developing glaucoma is straightforward: “Get them tested; it’s easy to do at your local opticians. Checking their eye pressures is crucial.”
Wayne’s final words for other parents are reassuring: “If your child is diagnosed, it’s not the end of the world. I know it’s worrisome because it affects their sight, but there are many treatment options available nowadays. Early detection is key to maintaining a normal life.”

Joanne Creighton, Chief Executive of Glaucoma UK, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Wayne and his family for sharing their story during Glaucoma Awareness Week. She emphasised the importance of family awareness and regular eye check-ups, stating, “Understanding the risk of glaucoma within families and prioritising regular eye check-ups is crucial. We hope the Bebb family’s story will inspire conversations within your own family to explore any history of glaucoma.”

Creighton also highlighted how eye care professionals can help raise awareness, adding, “Additionally, we urge professionals to ask a simple question during appointments with glaucoma patients: Have you informed your family about your diagnosis? This small step can ensure they understand the need to share their increased risk with loved ones and emphasise the importance of regular eye tests.”

Paul Morris, director of professional advancement at Specsavers, says: “Wayne and Gethin are doing an incredible service by highlighting the importance of having regular eye tests which, as they say, might save your eyesight. Thank you to the Bebb family.”

“I also pay tribute to Glaucoma UK. I’ve been honoured to work with the charity for several years because of the amazing work that it does from campaigning to practical help. The information on Glaucoma UK’s website and patient facing leaflets is invaluable, as are dispensing aids for drops or attended phone lines for those needing extra care or advice on supporting themselves or loved ones.”

Mr Morris adds: “For clinicians, I’d ask them to reflect on what they do when talking about glaucoma day in and day out. Signposting patients to the Glaucoma UK website is one way to make a difference.”

“Another way, as Glaucoma UK recommends, is for eye care professionals to talk to their patients about how glaucoma runs in families. Knowing if a family member or relative has the disease could protect their sight. The charity is asking professionals to encourage patients to start a conversation with their family members about their family’s eye health, so they can understand their own personal risk and prioritise regular eye tests. It’s a message we at Specsavers support too.”