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Allergan Australia and Glaucoma Australia are pleased to announce a platinum sponsorship agreement that represents funding support of AU$300,000 for the charity over a three year period.
The focus for the partnership will be on early detection and treatment adherence to help prevent irreversible blindness and boosting education and support available to existing patients.
“Glaucoma Australia is delighted to announce that for the next three years Allergan will be supporting our mission to eliminate glaucoma blindness,” said Annie Gibbins, CEO of Glaucoma Australia.
“As Platinum Partners, the significant support Allergan is providing will increase our capacity to provide a higher level of tailored education and support to patients referred to us. Together, we aim to save sight by improving early detection and treatment adherence,” she said.
Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases where vision is lost due to damage to the optic nerve. Approximately 300,000 Australians are thought to have glaucoma, yet 50% of cases remain undiagnosed. Generally, there are no symptoms or warning signs in the early stages and a considerable amount of peripheral vision may be lost before the problem is identified. The condition is preventable but can cause irreversible blindness if left untreated.
Around 150,000 Australians are completely unaware they have glaucoma. Glaucoma Australia is committed to reaching the relatives of people with glaucoma and motivating them to have early and regular testing - close relatives of people with glaucoma have up to 10 times the risk of developing the disease than other Australians.
“Allergan is proud to be supporting Glaucoma Australia with this significant commitment and to making a material contribution to earlier detection among other critical resources for people living with this disabling form of eye disease,” said Gerry Muhle, Managing Director of Allergan Australia and New Zealand. “Early intervention along with treatment adherence are key to saving sight in those with glaucoma, and we hope our support can make a meaningful difference in this area.”
The programs supported by the Allergan sponsorship will help to:
- Improve the delivery of education and support services to patients with Glaucoma
- Identify ways to improve treatment outcomes for patients with Glaucoma
- Improve early detection and referral rates for people at risk
- Help improve patient communication aimed at reducing diagnosis shock, understanding treatment choices and adherence
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