Over 20,000 Screened for Glaucoma in India and Nigeria Thanks to Joint Initiative, Keep Sight
Allergan, Sightsavers, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) launched the Keep Sight 2020 video report. The report details the results from the first year of their joint initiative, funded by Allergan, which aims to prevent glaucoma-related vision loss in underserved communities across the globe. Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions characterized by optic nerve damage. The IAPB Vision Atlas estimates that there are 76 million people with glaucoma, rising to 112 million by 2040.[i]
The film highlights the progress from 2019-2020 in Keep Sight’s two pilot community-based outreach programs screening over 20,000 people in India and Nigeria. Both programs have faced considerable challenges during the past year when glaucoma screening camps had to be closed due to COVID-19. In India, the team were able to adapt by using alternatives routes such as telemedicine, targeted social media campaigns, and opportunistic screening of patients who were attending hospital. Despite the challenging circumstances, the program screened almost 65% of the original target, whilst those identified with glaucoma, and then treated, met and exceeded the target.
The program experienced similar success in Nigeria, where after a significant delay due to the pandemic, screenings and training of eye health professionals restarted in November 2020. The re-opening of the program was accompanied with new protocols in place to ensure social distancing, and both patient and provider safety. 1,650 people have been screened so far and looking ahead and despite the continued threat of COVID-19, the team in Nigeria is confident they will continue to meet several of their targets.
Joanna Conlon, Director of Development and Communications at IAPB, praised the program for addressing an unmet challenge, “without initiatives such as Keep Sight which looks at addressing the causes, training and awareness [around glaucoma], the problem will only get bigger.” She added that “This initiative proves once again the power of partnership to have impact and make a difference in the places that need it most. IAPB are delighted to be working with Allergan and Sightsavers on Keep Sight”.
Caroline Harper, CEO, Sightsavers, said: “Glaucoma is a neglected issue in an already-neglected area of global health – eye health. The disease causes many people to become blind before they even know they have it but programmes like Keep Sight are helping us to stop this happening – taking glaucoma out of the ‘too hard’ box and into the box of ‘must do’.”
“The Keep Sight initiative is vital to reaching people in low- and middle-income countries who may otherwise be missed and as a consequence become blind,” said Andrew Stewart, General Manager, GMCO Eyecare, Allergan. He continued “We always have been, and always will be committed to meeting some of the greatest unmet needs in eye care as well as making a remarkable impact on people’s lives. It is with great pride that we support our NGO partners in the incredible work they do to advocate for people at risk of losing their sight.”
To learn more about Keep Sight and to watch the film click here*.
[i] Vision Atlas International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness