Health & Wellness Initiative Expanded Through Partnership With Prevent
                  Blindness America & Travatan(R) Eye Drops

    CHICAGO, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its on-going Health & Wellness
Initiative, Progressive Baptist Church at 3658 So. Wentworth will be offering
free glaucoma testing on Sunday, November 17th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Testing
will be administered by Prevent Blindness America, the nation's leading
volunteer eye health and safety organization.  It is being underwritten by a
grant from Travatan(R) Eye Drops, a glaucoma medication.
    Glaucoma is the number one cause of blindness among African Americans,
and, in addition to occurring more frequently in this group, affects them at a
younger age and leads to a greater likelihood of accelerated vision loss than
occurs among other groups affected by this disease.  In fact, African
Americans are 6 to 8 times more likely to develop glaucoma because of their
heritage.
    "The faith-based community has an important role to play in helping,
educating and healing Chicago's African American community," observes Dr.
Christopher Alan Bullock, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church.  "The free
glaucoma testing we are hosting this weekend is just one of the ways we are
working to maintain the health and wellness of our congregation and our
neighborhood."
    Once vision loss occurs from glaucoma, it is irreversible.  However, with
early detection and proper treatment, vision can usually be preserved.  Now,
eye doctors have a greater opportunity to diagnose glaucoma at an earlier
stage with recent changes in government policies that are making glaucoma
screenings more accessible for patients.
    "Glaucoma is often called the thief of sight," notes Dr. Mildred Olivier,
a Chicago-based glaucoma specialist who is a member of the National Advisory
Eye Council of the National Institutes of Health and also a Prevent Blindness
America board member.  "Glaucoma patients suffer a dangerous buildup of
pressure within the eye that eventually damages the delicate optic nerve until
eyesight is impaired or a person goes blind.  Because there is no pain
associated with this disease, people at greatest risk won't know they have it
until they get tested.  The disease can be treated and eyesight can be saved
by early detection and proper treatment."
    Progressive Baptist Church is located at 3658 So. Wentworth.  For further
information about the glaucoma screening, call (773) 268-6048.

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