Allergan, Inc. Launches National Glaucoma Education Campaign Partnership for Sight will encourage early detection

Allergan, Inc., has announced the launch of Partnership for Sight, a national glaucoma awareness campaign. Members of Partnership for Sight will work together to provide education to various target audiences to draw increased attention to the risk factors for glaucoma and encourage regular testing. Free, public glaucoma screening events held throughout the country will be the vehicle utilized to drive awareness.

IRVINE, CA (PRWEB) August 16, 2003 --- As part of the companys continuous effort to fight blindness caused by glaucoma, Allergan, Inc., has announced the launch of Partnership for Sight, a national glaucoma awareness campaign.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness among African Americans, who represent half of the estimated 3 million Americans who have the disease. There are no symptoms of glaucoma that can be discerned without testing, until the disease has progressed, and some vision has been lost. However, if the disease is detected and treated in the early stages, blindness is preventable.

Members of Partnership for Sight will work together to provide education to various target audiences to draw increased attention to the risk factors for glaucoma and encourage regular testing. National partners in this effort include Allergan, the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the National Medical Association, Howard University, Meharry Medical College, the Roman-Barnes Society, and the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.

Free, public glaucoma screening events held throughout the country will be the vehicle utilized to drive awareness. The field-of-vision test, considered the most accurate method of testing for glaucoma, will be available to participants at each of the screenings. This test, which would cost $125 in the doctors office, indicates any deterioration of peripheral vision, the first sign of glaucoma. The test is completely non-invasive and allows the participant to look into a computerized viewfinder to detect peripheral movement and use a thumb-activated "clicker" to respond. Total time to test both eyes is approximately three minutes and the participant receives a paper evaluation within seconds.

Partnership for Sight is funded by a grant from Allergan, Inc. Patrick Welch, director of US Therapeutics for Allergan, said, "The goal of Partnership for Sight is to reach out to as many individuals as possible, warn them of the dangers of glaucoma, encourage them to get examined and, if necessary, treated. By coming together, we hope to educate people on the steps they can take to prevent and fight against glaucoma."

For more information, please contact the Partnership for Sight program at (919) 680-6111 X 28 or visit http://www.partnershipforsight.org.    

National Partners

Allergan, Inc.

Allergan, Inc., is a technology-driven, global health care company providing eye care and specialty pharmaceutical products worldwide. With headquarters in Irvine, California, Allergan develops and commercializes products in the eye care, neuromodulator, skin care and other specialty markets that deliver value to our customers, satisfy unmet medical needs, and improve patients lives. For more information, please visit http://www.allergan.com.

Glaucoma Research Foundation

The Glaucoma Research Foundation is committed to serving the medical and patient community through education of patients and families living with glaucoma and through research to find a cure. To learn more or to contribute to the Glaucoma Research Foundation visit their website: www.glaucoma.org.

National Medical Association

The National Medical Association (NMA) is the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States. NMA is committed to improving the quality of health among minorities and disadvantaged people through its membership, professional development, community health education, advocacy, research and partnerships with federal and private agencies. Throughout its history the National Medical Association has focused primarily on health issues related to African Americans and medically underserved populations, however its principles, goals, initiatives and philosophy encompasses all ethnic groups. For more information, please visit www.nmanet.org.

Howard University

Howard University is a comprehensive research university, unique and irreplaceable, defined by its core values, the excellence of all its activities -- its instruction, research and service -- and by its enduring commitment to educating youth, African Americans and other people of color in particular, for leadership and service to our nation and the global community. For more information, please visit www.howard.edu.

Meharry Medical College

Since its founding in 1876, Meharry Medical College has provided superior health sciences education primarily to African Americans and other students of color. Emerging from humble beginnings and having survived harsh realities associated with its historic under-capitalization, Meharry today is an academically strong, fiscally sound, well-managed and visionary health sciences center poised for its most far-reach advancement in years. For more information, please visit www.mmc.edu.

Roman-Barnes Society

Established in 1968, the Roman-Barnes Society was founded by Dr. Charles Victor Roman and Dr. William Harry Barnes. The Society strives to "band together for the mutual cooperation and helpfulness of the men and women of African descent who are legally and honorably engaged" on the practice of eye care.    

Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.

The Progressive National Convention, an association of Baptist churches throughout the world, is committed to the mandate of making disciples for Christ. The convention is founded on the precepts of fellowship, service, progress and peace, and seeks to affirm the "priesthood of all believers." For more information, please visit www.pnbc.org.

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