Kirby Puckett Brings Glaucoma Campaign to San Francisco

Kirby Puckett Brings Glaucoma Campaign to San Francisco
Former Baseball All-Star Joins Mayor Willie Brown and
The Glaucoma Research Foundation for Glaucoma Awareness and Screening Program

  SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Minnesota Twins baseball
all-star Kirby Puckett, together with the Glaucoma Research Foundation and
Pharmacia & Upjohn, is bringing the national "Don't Be Blindsided!" glaucoma
education campaign to San Francisco.  Mr. Puckett and Mayor Willie Brown are
among the speakers at a 12:30 p.m. press conference in Union Square to help
raise awareness about glaucoma and provide important information about the
condition.  The Glaucoma Research Foundation will also offer free on-site
glaucoma screenings to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  Today's event occurs in  conjunction with the annual meeting of the
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in San Francisco.  The AAO represents
the largest U.S. association of ophthalmologists and supports glaucoma
awareness programs throughout the country.
  Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss in the United
States, affecting more than three million Americans, up to half of whom are
undiagnosed.  Like Puckett, nearly 120,000 Americans each year lose all or
part of their vision to glaucoma.  In California, there were nearly 200,000
cases of glaucoma reported in people over age 40, according to 1990
statistics.
  "I am pleased to team up with Mayor Brown, the Glaucoma Research
Foundation and Pharmacia & Upjohn to convey the importance of early detection
of glaucoma to the community of San Francisco," said Puckett, whose baseball
career ended in 1996 because of vision loss caused by glaucoma.  "Until I was
diagnosed, I never  gave glaucoma a thought.  Had I been aware of the
importance of regular glaucoma exams, I may have been able to save the sight
in my right eye.  Thousands of Americans may be at risk for glaucoma, which is
why I challenge everyone to get regular eye exams."
  San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown lauds the "Don't Be Blindsided!" campaign
because it addresses a health issue affecting many people locally as well as
nationally.
  "Glaucoma doesn't attract much interest, yet it remains a serious health
threat to thousands of people here in California," said Mayor Brown.  "Kirby
has done a wonderful job of raising awareness about glaucoma and getting
people to see their eye doctor."
  Glaucoma is a complex group of eye disorders having a common feature of
optic nerve damage.  Conditions commonly associated with glaucoma include
elevated intraocular pressure within the eye, cupping of the optic disc and
loss of visual field.  The  pressure comes from an inability of the eye to
drain the fluid properly.  There are usually no symptoms.
  "Americans need to know about the dangers of glaucoma," said Tara Steele,
Executive Director of the Glaucoma Research Foundation.  "With Kirby Puckett's
involvement, we hope to make the public aware of the wealth of resources that
are available to people at risk, and the importance of following through to
protect your sight."
  Although glaucoma can strike at any age, it is most commonly found in
people over age 40.  African-Americans, people with diabetes and those with a
family history of glaucoma are at higher risk for developing the disease.
Once glaucoma is diagnosed, treatment may involve eye drops and laser or
conventional surgery to control intraocular pressure.
  "Early diagnosis is key to glaucoma treatment," said Eve Higginbotham,
M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, University of  Maryland
School of Medicine.  "Because the disease has no symptoms in its early stages,
a painless and relatively quick examination by an eye doctor is the only way
to diagnose the disease early on, when appropriate treatment can minimize
vision loss."
  "Don't Be Blindsided!" is a national glaucoma education campaign sponsored
by Pharmacia & Upjohn to educate Americans about the risks of glaucoma and the
need for periodic eye examinations from qualified eye care professionals.  The
program encourages Americans to seek early detection of and treatment for
glaucoma.  "Don't Be Blindsided!" events occur throughout the United States
and are supported by such organizations as the American Academy of
Ophthalmology and the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
  The Glaucoma Research Foundation is a national voluntary health
organization dedicated to protecting the sight and independence of people with
glaucoma, through research and  education.  The Foundation's ultimate goal is
to find a cure for glaucoma.
  Pharmacia & Upjohn (NYSE: PNU) is a global, innovation-driven
pharmaceutical and health care company.  Pharmacia & Upjohn's products,
services and employees demonstrate its commitment to improve wellness and
quality of life for people around the world.

SOURCE Pharmacia & Upjohn