Study Website Version 1, dated 09/07/14
Study of screening for family members of African-Caribbean
glaucoma patients
A research study organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s
College London.
Home
About glaucoma
How to get a free eye test
More about the study
 Information for
Glaucoma Patients
 Information for
Relatives of Glaucoma
Patients
 Results
Contact us
Department of Ophthalmology
King’s College London
St Thomas' Hospital Campus
1st Floor South Wing Block 4
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
We are doing this study because we want to find out whether we can develop an effective screening
programme for African-Caribbean people who are at risk of getting the eye disease glaucoma. This is
important because African-Caribbean people have a higher than average risk of getting glaucoma
and the risk is even higher for those with a family member who has glaucoma because the condition
runs in the family.
Getting regular eye tests is important because it is the only way to detect glaucoma early and
prevent loss of vision.
The people we are asking to take part in the study are African-Caribbean glaucoma patients who attend the
glaucoma clinics and St Thomas’ Hospital and King’s College Hospital and the children, brothers, sisters and
parents of those glaucoma patients who have chosen to take part in the study.
If you are a close relative of a glaucoma patient taking part in this study you can get your eyes tested for
glaucoma by taking part. We will pay reasonable travel expenses for your visit to St Thomas’ Hospital for the tests
(up to a maximum of £60). If glaucoma is diagnosed or suspected we can write to your GP and ask them to refer
you for assessment and treatment under the NHS.
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If you are interested in taking part please contact us.
You do not have to take part in this study to get a free eye test for glaucoma. If you have a close
relative with glaucoma and are over 40 you can get a free eye test at any optician – if they find any
sign of glaucoma they will also refer you for assessment at your local NHS hospital eye service.
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Study Website Version 1, dated 09/07/14
Study of screening for family members of African-Caribbean
glaucoma patients
A research study organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s
College London.
Home
About glaucoma
How to get a free eye test
More about the study
 Information for
Glaucoma Patients
 Information for
Relatives of Glaucoma
Patients
 Results
Contact us
Department of Ophthalmology
King’s College London
St Thomas' Hospital Campus
1st Floor South Wing Block 4
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
About glaucoma
Glaucoma causes damage to the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. If it is not treated glaucoma can cause
a loss of vision and in the long term may lead to blindness. We do not fully understand the causes of glaucoma
but we know that the risk of getting glaucoma goes up as a person gets older and that it runs in the family.
In African-Caribbean people glaucoma can begin at an earlier age and be more severe. Also, close relatives of
people with glaucoma have a much higher risk of developing the condition than the average.
Why eye tests are important
Chronic glaucoma develops slowly and in the early stages there are no noticeable symptoms because the outer
field of vision is affected first. It is important to get regular eye checks because this is the only way to detect
glaucoma early and prevent loss of vision.
If you are a close relative of someone with glaucoma then you have a high risk of getting glaucoma because the
condition can run in the family.
 You should get your eyes tested regularly in case you develop glaucoma in the future.
 If you are over 40 you should get an eye test at an optician every year – the test will be free and will
detect glaucoma.
 Glaucoma is treatable, but if it is left undiagnosed and untreated permanent damage to your sight can
occur.
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Study Website Version 1, dated 09/07/14
Study of screening for family members of African-Caribbean
glaucoma patients
A research study organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s
College London.
Home
About glaucoma
How to get a free eye
test
More about the study
 Information for
Glaucoma Patients
 Information for
Relatives of Glaucoma
Patients
 Results
Contact us
Department of Ophthalmology
King’s College London
St Thomas' Hospital Campus
1st Floor South Wing Block 4
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
How to get a free eye test
If you are a close relative of a glaucoma patient taking part in this study you can take part in our study and we
will test you for glaucoma for free. We will pay reasonable travel expenses for your visit to St Thomas’ Hospital for
the tests.
Alternatively, any high street optician should test your eyes for free if you have a close relative with glaucoma and
you are over 40:
 The check up is free because close relatives of people with glaucoma have a higher risk of developing
glaucoma themselves and this needs to be identified and treated to prevent permanent loss of vision.
 All you need to do is tell the optician that you have a parent, sister, brother or child who has glaucoma.
If you get the test at an optician you are under no obligation to purchase glasses even if you are told that the
results of the eye tests indicate that you need glasses. You can simply get the free eye test to find out whether
you have glaucoma.
If the optician finds or suspects that you have glaucoma they will offer you a referral for free NHS treatment, just
as we will if you take part in the study and we find that you have glaucoma.
You should get your eyes tested regularly in case you develop glaucoma in the future.
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Study Website Version 1, dated 09/07/14
Study of screening for family members of African-Caribbean
glaucoma patients
A research study organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s
College London.
Home
About glaucoma
How to get a free eye test
More about the study
 Information for
Glaucoma Patients
 Information for
Relatives of Glaucoma
Patients
 Results
Contact us
Department of Ophthalmology
King’s College London
St Thomas' Hospital Campus
1st Floor South Wing Block 4
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
More about the study
Glaucoma is more common in African-Caribbean people and can begin at an earlier age and be more severe. Also,
close relatives of people with glaucoma have a much higher risk of developing the condition than people with no
family history of glaucoma.
We want to find out how common glaucoma is in close relatives (brothers, sisters, parents and children) of
African-Caribbean glaucoma patients. We also want to ask glaucoma patients’ relatives about what might influence
them to get their eyes tested for glaucoma regularly. Our aim is to use this information to develop a screening
programme for African-Caribbean people at high risk of glaucoma.
We also want to collect blood samples from African-Caribbean glaucoma patients and their close relatives. The
samples will be used for DNA analysis to help us understand more about the genetics of glaucoma. This might
help us find new treatments.
The full title of the study is: Investigation of the utility of cascade screening in high-risk family members of
African-Caribbean glaucoma cases: A cascade screening study of first degree relatives of glaucoma patients. The
study is being organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s College London. The lead researcher is
Professor Christopher Hammond who is Professor of Ophthalmology at King’s College London and a consultant in
the Eye Department at St Thomas’ Hospital (Guy’s at St Thomas’ NHS foundation Trust).
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


Information for Glaucoma Patients
Information for Relatives of Glaucoma Patients
Results
Contact us
4
Study Website Version 1, dated 09/07/14
Study of screening for family members of African-Caribbean
glaucoma patients
A research study organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s
College London.
Home
About glaucoma
How to get a free eye test
More about the study
 Information for
Glaucoma Patients
 Information for
Relatives of Glaucoma
Patients
 Results
Contact us
Department of Ophthalmology
King’s College London
St Thomas' Hospital Campus
1st Floor South Wing Block 4
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
Information for Glaucoma Patients
If you are a glaucoma patient and would like more detailed information about the study please download the
information sheet for glaucoma patients:

Information for African-Caribbean Glaucoma Patients
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Study Website Version 1, dated 09/07/14
Study of screening for family members of African-Caribbean
glaucoma patients
A research study organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s
College London.
Home
About glaucoma
How to get a free eye test
More about the study
 Information for
Glaucoma Patients
 Information for
Relatives of
Glaucoma Patients
 Results
Contact us
Department of Ophthalmology
King’s College London
St Thomas' Hospital Campus
1st Floor South Wing Block 4
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
Information for Relatives of Glaucoma Patients
If you are a relative of a glaucoma patient and would like more detailed information about the study please
download the information sheet for relatives of glaucoma patients:

Information for First Degree Relatives of African-Caribbean Glaucoma Patients
6
Study Website Version 1, dated 09/07/14
Study of screening for family members of African-Caribbean
glaucoma patients
A research study organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s
College London.
Home
About glaucoma
How to get a free eye test
More about the study
 Information for
Glaucoma Patients
 Information for
Relatives of Glaucoma
Patients
 Results
Contact us
Department of Ophthalmology
King’s College London
St Thomas' Hospital Campus
1st Floor South Wing Block 4
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
Results
We will provide information here about the results of the study.
The initial phase of the study is expected to last for two years so we do not anticipate that we will have any
results until the Autumn of 2016.
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Study Website Version 1, dated 09/07/14
Study of screening for family members of African-Caribbean
glaucoma patients
A research study organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, King’s
College London.
Home
About glaucoma
How to get a free eye test
More about the study
 Information for
Glaucoma Patients
 Information for
Relatives of Glaucoma
Patients
 Results
Contact us
Department of Ophthalmology
King’s College London
St Thomas' Hospital Campus
1st Floor South Wing Block 4
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7EH
Contact us
You can contact the study team by completing the form below or telephoning us on [NUMBER] –
 For more information about the study.
 To book an appointment for a screening visit.
 To cancel or rearrange an appointment for a screening visit
Please include your email address in the form below. If you call us and leave a voice message please make sure
you leave your name and a contact number.
First name:
Diana
Surname:
Email address: glaucomastudy@kcl.ac.uk
Kozareva
Telephone number: 07796 941 764
I would like more information about the study
I have a question about the study (please give details):
Y/N
Free text
I would like to book an appointment for a screening visit
What days/times are best for you?:
Y/N
Free text
I would like to cancel/rearrange an appointment
Date and time of appointment:
Do you want to arrange a new appointment?:
Y/N
DD/MM/YYYY; HH:MM
Y/N
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