Shining a Light on Retinoblastoma Awareness: A Shared Vision Between KnowTheGlow and Keeler
Megan Webber, Co-founder of KnowTheGlow (KTG), and Helene Dameris, Director of Global Outreach for KTG, recently met with Nicola Bennett, Head of Clinical Education & Customer Insight at Keeler, to explore opportunities to enhance awareness and education surrounding retinoblastoma (RB) and the Glow.
For Nicola, this is more than a professional interest. Through her work in clinical education and customer insight, she has had the privilege of working alongside ophthalmologists, optometrists, and paediatric eye care specialists across the globe, witnessing both the impact of early detection and the devastating consequences of delayed diagnosis.
Throughout her travels and collaborations, Nicola has met dedicated clinicians in the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and beyond who share a common goal: ensuring children receive timely access to sight and life-saving care. These experiences have reinforced her belief that awareness and education remain some of the most effective tools for improving outcomes in retinoblastoma.
During the meeting, Nicola highlighted that education sits at the heart of any successful awareness initiative. Supporting clinicians, medical students, optometry students, general practitioners (GPs), nurses, and allied healthcare professionals with the knowledge and confidence to recognise warning signs can help ensure children are referred quickly for specialist assessment.
“One of the things I have learned through working with clinicians around the world is that regardless of geography, healthcare systems, or resources, we all share the same objective: giving children the best possible start in life,” Nicola explained. “Increasing awareness of the Glow and other early warning signs of retinoblastoma has the potential to make a real difference for children and their families.”
The discussion explored several exciting opportunities for collaboration, including the development of educational webinars featuring retinoblastoma specialists, paediatric ophthalmologists, optometrists, and patient advocates from around the world. By combining clinical expertise with real-life experiences, these sessions could help equip healthcare professionals with practical knowledge while amplifying the important awareness message behind KnowTheGlow.
Nicola also discussed the potential role of Keeler’s Education Hub and wider educational platforms in sharing awareness resources and clinical content. By making educational materials accessible to healthcare professionals globally, there is an opportunity to strengthen understanding of retinoblastoma and support earlier detection pathways.
The conversation also highlighted the role that modern imaging technologies can play in education and clinical collaboration. Nicola noted how digital imaging solutions, including the Keeler Vantage Plus Digital, can support clinicians in capturing and sharing high-quality ocular images for education, discussion, and enhanced clinical communication.
Importantly, Nicola stressed that awareness should not be limited to eye care professionals alone. Parents often first raise concerns with family doctors, community healthcare providers, school nurses, or local optometrists. Ensuring these professionals understand the significance of the Glow and other concerning signs may help accelerate referral and diagnosis.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to exploring ways of integrating KnowTheGlow’s message into future educational initiatives. By bringing together global networks of clinicians, educators, and advocates, both organisations hope to increase awareness of retinoblastoma and support healthcare professionals in recognising the signs that could change a child’s future.
For Nicola, the collaboration reflects something she sees consistently throughout her work:
“Whether I’m visiting clinics in the UK, working with specialists in India, supporting education in Australia and New Zealand, or speaking with colleagues across Europe and North America, I’m continually inspired by the commitment of healthcare professionals who dedicate themselves to children’s eye health. If raising awareness of the Glow helps even one child receive an earlier diagnosis, then every conversation, collaboration, and educational initiative is worthwhile.”
By combining KnowTheGlow’s mission with Keeler’s global educational expertise and network of clinical partners, both organisations look forward to helping shine a light on retinoblastoma awareness and supporting better outcomes for children and families worldwide.
