(HealthNewsDigest.com) - ROCHESTER, N.Y. and DEERFIELD, Ill., March 13, 2013  -- Bausch + Lomb, the global  eye health company, and Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG), the largest U.S. drugstore chain, announced today a new SightSense(TM) online and in-store patient education program - an initiative to heighten eye health awareness and encourage consumers to take proactive steps to protect and preserve their sight.

"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," said Bausch + Lomb executive vice president and chief medical officer, Calvin Roberts, M.D. "We know that more than 80 percent of visual impairment is preventable, which makes it that much more important to elevate eye health awareness among consumers. Through the SightSense program we have an opportunity to do just that, and ultimately help people preserve and protect their most treasured sense, as well as improve their overall health."

The SightSense program features a special eye health section on Walgreens.com that provides tools, information and resources to help consumers become informed and proactive in their eye health, including a PSA-like video that illustrates the connection between eye health and overall wellness, as well as an eye health assessment test to screen for common problems. The website also provides an eye care professional locator for consumers to find an eye doctor near them, as well as a list of upcoming in-store events.


--  SightSense in-store events will be held in approximately 10 cities
across the country in 2013, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami.
The events will feature educational forums led by eye health
professionals as well as eye screenings for common problems.
Additionally, informative brochures on eye health will be available at
all Walgreens stores nationwide beginning in July 2013.
"Collectively, Walgreens and Bausch + Lomb have been focused on improving consumer health for more than 270 years," said Robert London, M.D., Walgreens national medical director.  "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."

Through both the online and in-store components of the SightSense program, consumers will be encouraged to get regular eye exams from their local eye care professionals, a key step to maintaining healthy eyes and preventing other health-related issues. Routine eye exams also can lead to better treatment and prevention of other diseases. The eyes are the one organ where a patient's arteries and veins can be seen, allowing eye care professionals to detect early signs of more than 150 diseases, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension, years before patients display other symptoms.  Bausch + Lomb and Walgreens will work together to build greater awareness about issues like these by providing consumers with the educational resources they need to increase their knowledge.

About Bausch + Lomb

Bausch + Lomb is one of the best-known and most respected healthcare companies in the world. Its core businesses include contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, NY, and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.bausch.com.

About Walgreens

As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America's first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,071 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

Web Site: http://www.bausch.com

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