E-Newsletter October 2026
Our monthly e-Newsletter featuring the latest updates from Retina UK.
Download our plain text version of the e-newsletter
If you weren’t able to join us on 19 September, or you’d like to revisit your favourite sessions, recordings from the Retina UK Annual Conference 2026 are now available to watch online.
Catch up on the latest research developments, hear from expert speakers, and access informative sessions covering a range of topics relevant to people living with inherited sight loss.
Whether you attended on the day or are watching for the first time, we hope you find the sessions informative and inspiring.
Beacon Therapeutics has announced positive results from its phase 2/3 VISTA clinical trial of laru-zova, an experimental gene therapy for people with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) caused by mutations in the RPGR gene.
Laru-zova works by delivering a healthy copy of the RPGR gene to retinal cells in the hope of improving their function. The treatment was generally well tolerated, with most side effects linked to the surgical procedure used to deliver it.
For the full article and to keep up to date with other developments please visit the Research News section on our website.
Why not organise a Christmas carol service or festive fundraiser in support of Retina UK?
Not ready to think about Christmas just yet? A Halloween-themed coffee morning, spooky quiz or autumn challenge could be the perfect way to get involved. You could even team up with friends, family or colleagues and take on a fundraising challenge together.
Whatever you choose, you’ll be helping to raise vital funds and awareness for people living with inherited sight loss.
Contact Maria on 07736 968158 or register your interest by following the link (below).
Many people living with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) wonder what they can do to protect their remaining vision and maintain good eye health.
Led by Louise Gow, Head of Eye Health, Optometry and Low Vision at the RNIB, this webinar will cover the importance of regular eye examinations and hospital appointments, recognising changes in your vision, and understanding when and where to seek help.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with sight loss for many years, this webinar will provide practical advice and information to help you feel confident in managing your eye health.
Date: 22 October
Time: 7.00pm
Location: Online
Foundation Fighting Blindness is hosting a live, interactive virtual gathering for those affected with RHO-associated autosomal dominant RP and have asked us to share details of the event below to our community. Please also find a link below to register for the event.
This session brings together clinical experts, genetic specialists,
Event details
- Date: Friday 6 November
- Time: 3.00pm – 5:15pm UK time (10.00am-12:15pm EDT)
- Location: Virtual via Zoom
What you will learn:
- Insights into RHO-adRP disease progression and the patient journey.
- Understanding autosomal-dominant inheritance and genetic testing.
- How to navigate clinical trials and access patient resources.
- Updates on emerging research pipelines from leading biotech companies.
- A live Q&A session with our expert panel.
You can find more information and sign up via the link below:
RHO Day Webinar — Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Your donation could go twice as far this Christmas through the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Retina UK aims to raise £100,000 to fund research into treatments for inherited sight loss.
From 1 to 8 December, donations made through the Big Give portal can be doubled through match funding, helping every gift make an even greater impact.
Whether you give £10, £25, £50 or more, you’ll be helping to bring us closer to better treatments. Every donation and every share counts. Keep an eye on our social media and communications for details of how to donate during the live campaign.
This year marks 10 years since the Accessible Information Standard was introduced in England. RNIB is carrying out a survey to understand whether blind and partially sighted people can access the healthcare information and communications they need today.
We want to hear about your experiences of things like appointment letters, test results, medication information, communications from healthcare services, and digital services such as the NHS App. Whether your experiences have been positive, challenging, or a mix of both, we’d like to hear from you.
The survey takes around 10-15 minutes to complete and your feedback will help inform RNIB’s policy, campaigning and influencing work to improve access to healthcare information and communications.
Take part in the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DDXKMXF
Please feel free to share this with other blind and partially sighted people living in England.
Survey closes Tuesday 20 October 2026.
Men’s Peer Support Group
Thursday 15 October – 7pm to 8.30pm – Online
Come and join Mark Baxter and the group for our latest Men’s Peer Support Group online social catch up.
‘Talking’ Books Peer Support Group
Wednesday 21 October – 7pm to 8pm – Online
Please come and join facilitators Cindy & Jane for our latest meeting where we will be reviewing our current book choice and discussing your suggestions and ideas for our next read.
West Midlands Local Peer Support Group
Tuesday 27 October – 7pm to 8pm – Online
Please come and join facilitator Perm and the group for their latest online meeting where we welcome our inspirational guest speaker, Shazia Begum.
‘Talking’ Home & Garden Peer Support Group
Tuesday 3 November – 7pm to 8pm – Online
Please join facilitators Brian & Steve where we invite you to celebrate National Homemaker Day with us by sharing your tips, hints & advice on how we can make our home & garden easier to manage.
South Wales Local Peer Support Group
Tuesday 10 November – 7pm to 8pm – Online
Please come and join facilitator Stuart and the group for their latest online meeting where we are delighted to welcome our guest speaker Anita Davies, Sight Loss Engagement Manager at WCB.
Belfast Local Peer Support Group
Saturday 21 November – 1pm to 5pm – In-person
Come and join Kim, Annmarie and the Belfast Bumpers Group for their Christmas celebration lunch at Greenisland Golf Club in Carrickfergus.
London & Southeast Local Peer Support Group
Friday 4 December – 6.30pm to 9.30pm – In-person
Please come and join facilitator Bhavini and the group for their Christmas event and evening out to see ABBA Voyage at the ABBA Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
For more information and to be kept up to date with peer support group activity please visit the Events page on our website – https://retinauk.org.uk/information-and-support/services/local-peer-support-groups/
Stay connected… Join a WhatsApp Group!
If you are unable to make one of our many Peer Support Groups either online or in-person, then why not join one of our WhatsApp group chats? We currently have chats for the following groups: –
- ‘Talking’ Tech
- ‘Talking’ Books
- Men’s
- Women’s
- Young Adults
- Scotland
- London & Southeast
- Belfast
- Manchester
- Berkshire
- Dorset & Southwest
- South Wales
For more information on how to join a group, please contact [email protected] or call our Helpline on 0300 111 4000.
The Bath Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 14 March, and with general entries now sold out, charity places are in high demand! Don’t miss your chance to take part in this popular event. Registration is just £30, with a fundraising target of £250. Secure your charity place here.
Prefer something different? From marathons and shorter runs to walks and adrenaline-fuelled adventures, there’s something to suit everyone. Join #TeamRetinaUK and help us make a difference for people with inherited sight loss.
Find your challenge or contact Michelle at [email protected] to find out more.