ROCHESTER, N.Y., and DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. and Bausch + Lomb have partnered to help raise consumer awareness of eye health.
The companies on Wednesday announced SightSense, an online and in-store patient education program to spur the drug chain’s customers to take steps to protect and preserve their sight.
Through SightSense, a special eye health section on Walgreens.com will provide tools, information and resources to help consumers become informed and proactive in their eye health, including a PSA-style video that shows the link between eye health and overall wellness. The online section also will offer an eye health assessment test so consumers can screen for common problems.
In addition, the website will provide an eye care professional locator to help consumers find an eye doctor nearby, as well as offer a list of upcoming in-store events.
Plans call for SightSense in-store events to be held this year in about 10 cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. The events will feature educational forums led by eye health professionals plus eye screenings. Brochures on eye health will be available at all Walgreens stores starting in July.
"Collectively, Walgreens and Bausch + Lomb have been focused on improving consumer health for more than 270 years," Robert London, national medical director for Walgreens, said in a statement. "By raising awareness of eye health as an integral part of a consumer’s overall preventive care plan, we further enrich the wellness experience available to and accessible for our customers."
Via the online and in-store components of SightSense program, consumers will be urged to get regular eye exams. Bausch + Lomb and Walgreens also noted that routine eye exams can lead to better treatment and prevention of other diseases, helping health providers detect conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension early on.
"Bausch + Lomb is excited to work with Walgreens to put eye health information within easy reach of consumers, which we hope will motivate more people to take better care of their eyes," stated Calvin Roberts, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Bausch + Lomb. "We know that more than 80% of visual impairment is preventable, which makes it that much more important to elevate eye health awareness among consumers."
