Suraj’s journey of living with Glaucoma

Suraj’s life changed dramatically when diagnosed with glaucoma at a young age. Multiple prescription updates after multiple visits to the optician led to an optometrist discovering high eye pressure, leading to the diagnosis.

Initially, he dealt with the diagnosis of glaucoma with medication but ended up needing surgery. 

“I am a little bit like a lone wolf, where I will just soldier on, but there was a nurse who mentioned the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) from Galloways who was stationed at the hospital.”

His diagnosis impacted his ability to travel for his job in Kendal, however, in time he has managed to secure work more local to where he lives and has continued to work as a pharmacist. After a period of time, Suraj’s mother was the one who encouraged him to reach out to Galloways.

Suraj found the Get Active programme and tennis particularly beneficial, as it helps him stay physically active and focused. This image shows Suraj (leftmost) and 5 other people holding tennis rackets on a court.

He also volunteers at Galloways events which give him a sense of community and purpose. The flexible volunteering schedule allows him to engage on his own terms, significantly benefiting his mental health and social life. Suraj has also recently become a part of our Lived Experience Ambassador programme, where he has expanded his volunteering further to include to support our Team with being able to talk confidently about visual impairment and positively about Galloways.  This role can be carried out in a variety of means; for example, a talk to a community group, delivering training to professionals, presenting to an external team about our services, etc.

Suraj’s journey of living with glaucoma highlights the importance of support networks like Galloways in fostering independence, confidence, and social connection. He encourages others facing similar challenges to reach out for help and explore volunteering opportunities for a fulfilling, flexible experience.