My parent has glaucoma: how to help

Guides from Emma

What your parent is facing

Glaucoma damages the main nerve that connects the eye to the brain. It usually develops slowly, over many years. The NHS says there is no cure, but treatments can slow down the damage and help stop vision getting worse.

Treatment may include eye drops, laser treatment or surgery. There are also follow-up appointments to check that the treatment is working. The NHS says it is normal to worry about how much vision might change.

Source: NHS

Help with eye drops

The National Eye Institute says some people stop using their drops after a while. They may:

• forget
• get out of the habit
• think the medicine is not helping

The drops do not make the eyes feel different or improve vision. They prevent vision from getting worse. A gentle reminder of this can help.

Putting drops in

If your parent finds the drops hard to put in, these are the steps the National Eye Institute describes:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Tilt your head back and look up.
3. With one hand, pull the lower eyelid down and away from the eye. This makes a pocket for the drop.
4. With the other hand, hold the bottle upside down, with the tip just above the pocket. Squeeze the prescribed number of drops into the pocket. Do not let the tip touch the eye or the eyelid.
5. Close the eye, and press a finger lightly on the inner corner of the eye for at least 1 minute. This keeps the drop from draining into the nose.
6. If you use more than one type of drop, wait at least 5 minutes between each type.

The National Eye Institute also suggests asking the eye doctor about special tools that make drops easier to put in.

If your parent notices side effects, encourage them to talk to their doctor. The National Eye Institute says a different dose or a different medicine may be possible.

Source: US National Eye Institute · US National Eye Institute

Help with appointments

• Plan the trip home. MedlinePlus says that, for a few hours after the drops that widen the pupils, vision may be blurry and sensitive to light. Your parent may need a lift.
• Write the questions down before you go. For example: What type of glaucoma is it? Is the treatment working? When is the next check-up?
• Bring a list of every medicine, supplement and vitamin. The National Eye Institute says glaucoma drops may affect how other medicines work.
• Do not let appointments slip. The NHS says it is important not to miss them.

Source: MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine) · US National Eye Institute · NHS

Help at home

If your parent's sight is already affected, the National Eye Institute suggests some simple changes:

• brighter lights at home
• anti-glare sunglasses
• a magnifying lens for reading and other close-up tasks

In the UK, the NHS says that people with long-term vision loss should be referred to local support services. These can help with adapting the home, low vision aids, travel and benefits. The NHS also names Glaucoma UK and RNIB for information and support.

Source: US National Eye Institute · NHS · NHS

Driving (UK)

In the UK, GOV.UK says a driver must tell the DVLA about glaucoma if it affects both eyes, or if it affects one eye and they only have vision in that eye. They must also tell the DVLA if a GP, optician or eye specialist has said they should not drive. This can be a hard conversation. The eye doctor can help.

Driving rules are different in other countries. Ask the eye doctor what applies where your parent lives.

Source: GOV.UK (DVLA)

Signs that need urgent help

Source: NHS · US National Eye Institute

Your own eyes

The NHS says your risk of glaucoma may be higher if you have a brother, sister or parent with it. The National Eye Institute says that half of people with glaucoma do not know they have it, because it often has no early symptoms.

The NHS says everyone should have an eye test at least every 2 years, and that people at higher risk may be advised to have tests more often. When you book, tell the optician or optometrist that your parent has glaucoma.

Source: NHS · US National Eye Institute

How Emma can help

Emma is a companion for your parent. She lives on their phone, and nothing they tell her leaves it.

• Spoken reminders for drops and appointments.
• A Journey Log for eye-pressure readings and notes, with a summary to take to the appointment.
• Answers in plain English, by voice or by typing, read aloud, with the source shown. Your parent can ask the same question twice without feeling a nuisance.
• A reader for small print on labels and leaflets.

The easiest way to start is to set Emma up on your parent's phone with them. On iPhone, one purchase can cover everyone in your Apple family group through Family Sharing.

Where this comes from

Every statement on this page comes from public health guidance. We checked each one against the live page of its source on 19 October 2026. Guidance can change, so the live page is always the most current version.

1. Glaucoma — NHS. Page last reviewed 13 June 2025.
2. Vision loss — NHS. Page last reviewed 28 August 2025.
3. Glaucoma — US National Eye Institute.
4. Glaucoma medicines — US National Eye Institute. Last updated 5 December 2024.
5. How to put in eye drops — US National Eye Institute. Last updated 5 December 2024.
6. Low vision — US National Eye Institute.
7. Glaucoma — MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine).
8. Glaucoma (Papahewa) — Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.
9. Eye conditions and driving — GOV.UK (DVLA).