Macular Society volunteer supports Cranleigh sight loss group

Regan Ruther is a retired ophthalmic nurse now volunteering to help others in Cranleigh with the biggest cause of sight loss.

Have you heard of macular disease? It’s the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, and as with any visual impairment, it can lead to loneliness and isolation in people of all ages.

National charity the Macular Society runs support groups including one in Cranleigh where Regan Ruther helps to oversee the monthly get-togethers.

Regan, 75, was as an ophthalmic nurse for 44 years which inspired her to volunteer in the sight loss charity sector when she retired.

She knows all too well then impact it has after being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2023 after visiting her optician having noticed small print was getting harder to read.

Regan says:

“I always found eyes so fascinating and their link to our overall health. It’s true when people say the eyes are the window to your soul, you can tell a lot about someone’s health through their eyes.

“Volunteering was a natural progression for me, wanting to help people once they’re outside of the clinic, going from that hospital setting to being in the community; knowing you could help with a little bit of background knowledge and signposting people where they needed to go for further help.”

“I enjoy bringing people together so they aren’t isolated, seeing them have fun because it doesn’t need to be all doom and gloom with sight loss. It’s important they mix with other people with similar conditions, they can have a chat, make friendships and therefore understand their diagnosis more.

“When people first come to the group, that alone is a big step for them. It’s being able to speak to other people who you can then open up to and relate with because you all have similar or the same sight issues. That’s when people begin to feel more confident, they buddy up and rediscover their confidence again because that is something easily lost after you get a diagnosis.”

Regan believes being positive will stand her in good stead should her sight change in the future.

Part of that comes down to knowledge and she encourages others to find out as much as they can about their own diagnosis, to help them on their own journey which is where the Macular Society helps.

Nearly 1.5 million people are currently affected and many more are at risk.

It leaves many unable to drive, read or see faces. There is still no cure, and most types of the disease are not treatable.

Contact details

The Macular Society Cranleigh Support Group gets together on the last Tuesday of every month, 2-4pm at The Manor, Elmbridge Village, GU6 8TR.

If you would like to become a volunteer with the Cranleigh group, please contact Jo Fishwick on 07542 505 127 or email jo.fishwick@macularsociety.org.

For more information about the Macular Society, please call 0300 3030 111, email help@macularsociety.org or visit macularsociety.org.

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