Rosie Cheer from Bulwell, Nottingham (pictured) is one over 400 patients across the country who is helping to improve treatment for glaucoma. Glaucoma is a complicated group of eye diseases that affect an increasing number of people. Without treatment glaucoma can lead to sight loss and even blindness.
Mrs Cheer was diagnosed with advanced glaucoma in both eyes in 2014. While undergoing treatment for this disease at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust(NUH), she got involved in the TAGS Study (Treatment of Advanced Glaucoma Study). Professor Anthony King, Consultant Ophthalmologist at NUH, and is leading the investigating into whether it is better to treat glaucoma with eyedrops or with surgery.
Mrs Cheer says taking part in research in Nottingham “helps us progress and hopefully provide better medical treatment in the future”.
“As well as benefiting yourself it will help others, so I would encourage more people to get involved in clinical research,” said Mrs Cheer, a grandmother who worked as a manager at a further education college before her retirement.
“Being able to use the NHS is a great asset and sometimes people can take it for granted. Contributing to research is one way of giving something back to the NHS. I have decided to contribute to the next phase of the TAGS glaucoma study and am also involved by supporting the UK Biobank.”
Listen to the TAGS study findings
Listen to more about the TAGS study and its initial findings from Professor Anthony King on The Clinical Research Podcast. You can listen online or find it on your favourite podcast app.