BN003644  05 de março de 2008  03:00 HORALOCAL


Leading Glaucoma Experts Act to Help Prevent Vision Loss as 50 
Percent of Patients Remain Undiagnosed

    LONDON, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- On the first World Glaucoma Day 
(March 6, 2008), leading glaucoma experts globally are asking those 
who may be at risk of the condition not to leave their vision to 
chance - with a clear message that 50 percent of people with 
open-angle glaucoma and more than 50 percent of people with 
angle-closure glaucoma are unaware they have it.(1),(2) In addition, 
50 percent remain untreated until a large amount of irreversible 
vision loss has already occurred.(1)
    During World Glaucoma Day, experts are encouraging patients at risk 
for glaucoma to utilize resources from sources like the All Eyes on 
Glaucoma(TM) campaign, which aims to help people recognize and 
understand the devastating consequences of glaucoma - the world's 
second leading cause of blindness. The All Eyes on Glaucoma campaign 
also seeks to increase public awareness of risk factors for glaucoma 
and reinforce the critical importance of having regular, complete eye 
examinations. One key component of the campaign is the interactive 
consumer website, http://www.AllEyesonGlaucoma.com, which offers 
tools such as an "Am I at Risk" quiz and a "Conversation Starter" on 
important questions to ask at the eye doctor.
    World Glaucoma Day is a joint initiative by the World Glaucoma 
Association (WGA) and World Glaucoma Patient Association (WGPA) 
designed to promote awareness of eye health and the importance of 
regular eye examinations to reduce the onset of glaucoma. Due to the 
rapidly growing aging population, the prevalence of glaucoma is 
expected to rise from 60 million in 2010 to 80 million in 2020 
globally.(3)
    "World Glaucoma Day offers an opportunity to send a clear message 
about preventing glaucoma and helping preserve vision - although 
glaucoma may affect all age groups, individuals at risk and those 
over age 40 should have regular, comprehensive eye exams that include 
careful evaluation of the optic nerve and measurement of eye 
pressure," said Dr. Robert Weinreb, President of the American 
Glaucoma Society, Past President of the WGA and Distinguished 
Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego, 
USA. "Since vision loss from glaucoma is permanent, glaucoma needs to 
be diagnosed and treated as early as possible."

    Important Steps to Proactively Protect Your Vision

    Step 1: Learn the Risk Factors
    Since glaucoma may not have any early symptoms, the first step in 
preventing glaucoma is to learn the risk factors and to discuss them 
with an eye health professional. The primary risk factors for 
glaucoma include:(4)
     -- Increasing age
     -- High eye pressure (or intraocular pressure/IOP)
     -- Family history of glaucoma
     -- African and Chinese ancestry(5)
     -- Nearsightedness
     -- High blood pressure(6)

    Step 2: Get a Complete Eye Examination
    For all individuals, especially those at high risk of developing and 
losing sight from glaucoma, the World Glaucoma Association recommends 
getting a regular, complete eye exam that includes tests that measure 
eye pressure, assess the optic nerve and test visual field, including 
the following:
     -- Tonometry: Measures eye pressure which should be tracked over time
     -- Optic nerve exam: Evaluates the optic nerve structure
     -- Visual Field test: Visual field (or peripheral or side vision) 
measures the entire area you can see while looking at a fixed point

    Impact of Functional Vision Loss
    The consequences of vision loss due to irreversible optic nerve 
damage can greatly affect one's independence, such as the ability to 
drive and perform basic daily activities due to sensitivity to light, 
problems with glare, blurred vision and trouble seeing in dark 
places. According to the American Journal of Ophthalmology, quality of 
life is also greatly affected.
    In fact, nearly 35 percent of newly diagnosed glaucoma patients 
reported symptoms of nervousness, anxiety or stress.(7)
    "In addition to a greater risk of disability, delayed diagnosis of 
glaucoma results in increased healthcare costs for both the 
individual and society as a whole," said Professor Roger Hitchings, 
Professor of Ophthalmology, University College London and Consultant 
Ophthalmic Surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England. "It is 
crucial to elevate the importance of eye health now to reduce the 
burden of functional vision loss later as the aging population 
continues to grow."

    About All Eyes on Glaucoma
    The campaign All Eyes on Glaucoma(TM) is sponsored by Pfizer 
Ophthalmics and encourages at-risk individuals to understand more 
about glaucoma and the practical steps that need to be taken to 
preserve eye health and prevent optic nerve damage. The global 
educational program offers an informative website, 
http://www.alleyesonglaucoma.com, that provides online resources and 
support to help people take action now and avoid the negative 
consequences of vision loss later.

    About Pfizer Ophthalmics
    Pfizer Ophthalmics, a division of Pfizer Inc, is committed to 
preserving sight and eliminating preventable blindness. Pfizer 
Ophthalmics discovers, develops and provides leading treatments in 
ophthalmology to support patients who are at risk of blindness or 
suffering from vision impairment, and to serve the health care 
professionals who treat them. Its current product line includes the 
most prescribed treatment to lower elevated eye pressure in patients 
with ocular hypertension (abnormally high eye pressure) or open-angle 
glaucoma. Pfizer Ophthalmics also markets a treatment for neovascular 
age related macular degeneration outside the U.S. This same treatment 
is marketed in the U.S. by (OSI) Eyetech.

    Notes to Editors:
    Glaucoma is the name given to a series of devastating diseases that 
irreversibly damage the eye's optic nerve. If left unchecked, this 
can result in serious vision loss over time. Glaucoma is commonly 
detected by measuring the pressure in the eye, also known as 
intraocular pressure (IOP). When eye pressure increases over time, 
the optic nerve becomes damaged. Worldwide, an estimated 6.7 million 
people are blind from glaucoma, with approximately 70 million people 
living with the condition.(8)

    The two most common forms of glaucoma are:
     -- Open-angle glaucoma - when the pressure in the eye increases over 
time due to poor drainage of the aqueous humor.
     -- Angle-closure glaucoma - when the iris is too close to the 
drainage canal (trabecular meshwork).

    The only modifiable glaucoma risk factor is high eye pressure, though 
it is possible to develop the condition without it. Due to the 
build-up of natural fluid produced by the eye, high eye pressure 
causes permanent damage to the optic nerve, the "cable" used by the 
eye to communicate to the brain. High eye pressure may exist without 
noticeable symptoms so many people do not know they have it if their 
vision is not checked regularly. In fact, people may not notice 
vision loss until 40 percent or more of their optic nerve has been 
damaged.(9) IOP is an easily identifiable risk factor; however people 
who fall within the normal IOP range may still be at risk for 
glaucoma.

    (1) World Health Organization. Bulletin of the World Health 
Organization. In Focus. Nov 1, 2004. Available at: 
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/82/11/feature1104/en/. Accessed 
July 16, 2007.
    (2) Thomas R, Sekhar GC, Parikh R. Primary angle closure glaucoma: a 
developing a world perspective. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 
2007; 35(4): 374-378(5)
    (3) Quigley HA, Broman AT. The number of people with glaucoma 
worldwide in 2010 and 2020. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006; 90: 262-267.
    (4) The Glaucoma Foundation. Who's At Risk? Available at: 
http://www.glaucomafoundation.org/Risk.htm. Accessed on August 24, 
2007.
    (5) World Health Organization. Bulletin of the World Health 
Organization. In Focus, Nov. 1 2004
    (6) U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Guarding Against Glaucoma. 
Available at: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/995_glaucoma.html . 
Accessed on August 24, 2007
    (7) Jampel HD, Frick KD, Janz NK. Depression and Mood Indicators in 
Newly Diagnosed Glaucoma Patients. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 
2007; 144(2): 238-244.e1.
    (8) Congdon NG, Friedman DS, Lietman T. Important Causes of Visual
Impairment in the World Today. JAMA. 2003; 290: 2057-2060.
    (9) American Family Physician. Open-Angle Glaucoma - May 1, 2003. 
Available at: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030501/1937.html. Accessed 
August 8, 2007.

SOURCE  All Eyes on Glaucoma Campaign
                              03/05/2008
    CONTACT:  Con Franklin: +44(0)20-711311313, 
con.franklin@resolutecommunications.com, for All Eyes on Glaucoma 
Campaign/
Web site:  http://www.AllEyesonGlaucoma.com 
           http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/82/11/feature1104/en
           http://www.glaucomafoundation.org/Risk.htm 
           http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/995_glaucoma.html 
           http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030501/1937.html 


BNED: NG

FONTE:    PR NEWSWIRE LATIN AMERICA
          CORAL GABLES - MIAMI-US
CONTATOS: USA-MARY D'LEON
          BRASIL-NÉLIA GARCIA
TELS:     USA:1-201-360-6540/BRASIL:55-21-2132-8461
FAXES:    USA:1-201-360-6593/BRASIL:55-21-2132-8469
E-MAILS:  nelia_garcia@prnewswire.com.br mary_dleon@prnewswire.com

PALAVRA-CHAVE:  RJ
PALAVRA-CHAVE/RAMO DE ATIVIDADE: SAÚDE
PALAVRA-CHAVE/EMPRESA: ALL EYES ON GLAUCOMA CAMPAIGN