NHS consultant walks Northern Ireland coastline in support of glaucoma patients’ voices
A Belfast-based NHS consultant is walking the entire coastline of Northern Ireland in 20 days in 2026 to raise awareness of glaucoma and encourage people to take part in Glaucoma UK’s National Patient Voices Survey, the largest glaucoma patient insight study ever conducted in the UK.
Angela Knox, a consultant ophthalmologist and former Clinical Lead for glaucoma at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, began the journey in March with the aim of highlighting the importance of hearing directly from patients about their experiences of the condition.
Angela has spent years at the forefront of glaucoma care in Northern Ireland overseeing services supporting more than 15,000 patients across the Belfast Trust’s main unit and satellite clinics. Listening to patients’ concerns about busy and often stressful hospital environments, she played a key role in moving services into a modern community setting in 2013, designed to be more accessible, efficient and welcoming.
Her efforts to improve access to appointments go hand-in-hand with her desire to better understand the challenges patients face beyond the clinic.
“As a glaucoma consultant I see firsthand the effects of glaucoma on our patients, but I also know that clinic appointments only tell part of the story,” she said.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible sight loss and can often develop without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Research from Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London suggests that over one million adults aged 40 and over in the UK are living with glaucoma, with around half unaware they have the condition. Through the survey, patients have the opportunity to share their experiences and help shape future glaucoma services and support.
Upon hearing about Glaucoma UK’s patient voice survey, and its promise to help shape the future of glaucoma care, Angela was inspired to take on a new challenge to encourage more people to get involved.
“I’m so excited about the National Patient Voices survey from Glaucoma UK,” she said. “It’s a unique and powerful opportunity for patients to share what life with glaucoma truly feels like; their challenges, their experiences and what matters most to them.”
What better way to take that message coast to coast, than to hand-deliver it? Angela has already completed the North Coast and is now well into the East Coast, having passed through Larne and Islandmagee. She is planning to reach Belfast in early July, before continuing on towards Helen’s Bay, Bangor and beyond. She’ll be taking on the remaining coastline throughout July into August, finishing at Dunnaval overlooking Haulbowline Lighthouse.
Despite the physical challenge, Angela says her inspiration comes from the people she has cared for throughout her career.
“Every mile along the coast is a reminder of the long journey many people face with this condition”, she says. “I am often inspired by the courage and determination of patients with glaucoma — people who adapt, persevere and get on with life despite the uncertainty about their vision. This walk, in a small way, is for them.”
Angela is encouraging anyone living with glaucoma to take part in the Patient Voices Survey.
“By sharing personal experiences, patients have the opportunity to turn their individual journey into a collective force that could help to shape the future of glaucoma management and support services. I’d really encourage them to take a few minutes to contribute; their perspective is the most powerful tool we have for reform.”
Angela is sharing regular updates from her walk on her JustGiving page: justgiving.com/page/angela-knox
For more information about the National Patient Voices Survey, visit glaucoma.uk/national-patient-voices-survey/
ENDS
About Glaucoma UK: Glaucoma UK is the charity solely for people with glaucoma. We’re here for people with glaucoma and their loved ones. We campaign to raise awareness so glaucoma is detected early and can be treated, we support people to live well with glaucoma and we fund sight-saving research.
We are a membership organisation, and those living with glaucoma are at the very heart of all we do. We support people to live well with glaucoma by providing a telephone helpline, glaucoma support groups, peer support services and widely acclaimed information booklets.
For more information, please visit our website glaucoma.uk
Glaucoma helpline:
01233 648 170 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am–5.00pm)
Notes to editors:
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Image credit: Angela Knox and Glaucoma UK.