Pharmacia & Upjohn is working with ORBIS, the flying eye training hospital, to produce a series of eyecare booklets, leaflets and posters, in both Hindi and English. The booklets are designed to inform people about basic eyecare and to raise awareness about preventable and curable eye diseases. The booklets will also be produced in Chinese and Japanese and made available through- out the Asia Pacific region.

The expertise in the field of ophthalmic drugs made the company a natural partner for ORBIS, which is a pioneer in the areas of ophthalmic education and training. Pharmacia & Upjohn has been at the forefront of developing ophthalmic productsand drugs capable of treating diseases such as glaucoma and cataract. The company believes that education and prevention are the most effective tools in combating eye disease.

The company hopes that through this partnership it can help improve the quality of life for millions of people. There are currently more than 8 million people in the country suffering from blindness. This accounts for approximately one quarter of the world's blind population. Eighty per cent of these cases are curable or preventable if caught in time. The two most common causes of blindness are cataract and glaucoma.

Pharmacia & Upjohn India has already organised free screening campaigns for glaucoma, a condition, if not treated in time, will lead to partial or full loss of vision. The company had conducted these screening at nine centres in the country, during October last year. An overwhelming response was the result of the free screenings in New Delhi, according to Pharmacia & Upjohn India president and managing director DouglasJ Herman.

Glaucoma is an eye disease associated with an increase in pressure inside the eye. This build up in pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve. If the optic nerve is damaged, a patient can suffer partial or even total loss of vision. As glaucoma has no obvious symptoms, diagnosis is usually too late, says Herman.

The screenings had coincided with the India Mission of ORBIS. Pharmacia & Upjohn was the major sponsor for ORBIS India Mission which was in the country a few months ago. With an aim to improve the eye health conditions in India, the multinational pharmaceutical major has contributed a substantial donation in terms of monetary support, ophthalmic products, printed materials and communications supports to ORBIS for its India Mission.

In Bangalore, the glaucoma screening camp was organised at Prabha Eye Clinic few months back. The free screenings were for persons in the high-risk category as those suffering from diabetes or hypertension, or those above the age of 50. The patients werescreened and those found to be suffering from glaucoma, were prescribed appropriated treatment by qualified medical professionals.

As a leading provider in eye care products, the company has pioneered innovative treatments for serious eye ailments including glaucoma and cataract. A major part of the Pharmacia & Upjohn sponsorship of the ORBIS India Mission is earmarked for the awareness campaign, as lack of awareness is the greatest cause of blindness in the country. India is believed to have the largest population of blind in the world.

Recently Pharmacia & Upjohn India has sponsored a symposium in Bangalore on glaucoma and phacoemulsification is association with the Karnataka Regional Ophthalmological Society. It is our endeavour to make every person aware of the causes and preventive measures of common treatable diseases like glaucoma, so that no one unnecessarily lose the precious gift of sight, Herman had told The Financial Express.

The company is hoping that the awareness and visibilitygenerated through the ORBIS Mission, will result in people waking up to the need for prevention of blindness. Pharmacia & Upjohn's products, services and employees demonstrate its commitment to improving quality of life for people worldwide.

Pharmacia & Upjohn India markets a range of pharmaceutical products in the following therapeutic areas: ophthalmoloy, female healthcare, oncology, metabolic disease, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, critical care and some general products.