Credit: image supplied by Andrew Stewart
What is the story behind the campaign?
Bausch + Lomb and the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) are collaborating for a third time to raise awareness during Glaucoma Awareness Month. Since 2022, we have highlighted a different aspect of glaucoma – the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. For 2024, Faces of Glaucoma features three unique individuals to showcase the resilience and strength of glaucoma patients and emphasize the universality of the disease.
What are the main aims of the campaign?
The campaign aims to increase awareness of glaucoma, promote the need for a cure, and spur advocacy on behalf of those suffering with the emotional, financial, and physical burden of the disease.
Through a social media campaign, patient stories and tips will be shared throughout Glaucoma Awareness Month. We encourage people to participate in the campaign on social media by engaging with – and sharing – these stories.
Can you talk about the fundraising element of the campaign?
Over the past three years, Bausch + Lomb and GRF have encouraged people to participate in a fundraising challenge to support research for a potential glaucoma cure. Each year, Bausch + Lomb has pledged to match every dollar raised up to $20,000. As a result of the 2023 “Screen, Protect, Cure” campaign, we raised a total of $41,817.64.
What do you hope the individual glaucoma patient stories will achieve?
Glaucoma can affect anyone. But the risk is increased for those individuals who are over the age of 55, have a family history of glaucoma, are from African American, Asian or Hispanic heritage, or have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, migraines, or high blood pressure. The patients featured in our campaign share some of these diverse attributes, but also highlight that glaucoma can truly affect anyone. One of our patients, Jaxon, was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma when he was just three months old. While his parents heard of glaucoma before he was diagnosed, they – like many others – only associated glaucoma with the elderly community.
By sharing educational resources, the Faces of Glaucoma campaign will empower individuals to take care of their eye health, educate themselves, and get their annual eye exam.
Andrew Stewart is President of Global Pharmaceuticals and International Consumer at Bausch + Lomb.
