BiCOM Brings Preventable Vision Loss into Focus on World Sight Day

Released on: October 13, 2008, 10:51 am

Press Release Author: Heather Joy Roth/ BiCOM Inc.

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: To bring global attention to blindness and vision impairment,
October 9th is designated World Sight Day (WSD). The Vision 2020 Global Initiative
along with BiCOM Inc. supports WSD in public education events. The annual event aims
to bring vision health problems to the forefront of global health issues.


Press Release Body: In an effort to bring global attention to blindness and vision
impairment, October 9th is designated World Sight Day (WSD). This annual event aims
to raise public awareness of blindness and vision impairment. The Vision 2020 Global
Initiative along with BiCOM Inc. supports WSD in all public education events. These
health concerns are currently not at the forefront of global health issues, and WSD
hopes to bring these preventable health problems into focus. Vision 2020 members
hope to influence members of government to participate in and designate funds to
national blindness prevention programs. BiCOM Inc. has a long history in supporting
efforts to increase community awareness of preventable blindness. According to The
International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, every five seconds someone loses
their vision needlessly. By working in tandem to support initiatives of education,
we can save the sight of millions.

To raise awareness about the threat of glaucoma, BiCOM Inc. has previously joined
forces with local non profit organizations. BiCOM helped to conduct intraocular
"eye" pressure (IOP) screenings with their portable, non-invasive (through the
eyelid) Tonometer Diaton and providing materials about glaucoma prevention to the
public. BiCOM also trained members of local community health actions to screen
using Tonometer Diaton, allowing the community to be aware of health problems they
should be concerned with. BiCOM's goal is to not only educate the public on how
important it is to regularly get screened for Glaucoma, but make the actual
screening accessible to those who need it the most. By cooperating with non
profits, BiCOM is able to reach out to the community and answer questions that many
people forget to ask or do not have the access to a Doctor to ask, due to no
medical coverage.

BiCOM Inc. in conjunction with The Lions Clubs of Staten Island held an
educational/screening event to detect and prevent glaucoma using hand held
tonometer Diaton . Lions Club members are now planning to add painless Diaton
tonometry to their health screening events. BiCOM Inc. held a very successful
screening event at The Staten Island Ferry on World Glaucoma Day. BiCOM's awareness
campaign reached over 2,000,000 eyes. In addition, Whoopi Goldberg has noted
BiCOM's initiatives and the World Glaucoma Day on her morning program.

Roman Iospa, the CEO of BiCOM has interviewed Mr. Eric "Ricky" McKinnie, the
drummer/vocalist and tour manager for the world-renowned, four-time Grammy winning
band The Blind Boys of Alabama. www.rickymckinnie.com Mr. McKinnie lost his sight
due to glaucoma in 1975 but has continued to excel far beyond his own imagination.

"Glaucoma is like high blood pressure & diabetes - you have to check your eye
pressure regularly so that your sight doesn't close on you." Mr. McKinnie stated in
the interview, adding, "Remember, every time that you see a rainbow - it doesn't
mean its gold, because a rainbow can mean Glaucoma."

BiCOM Inc. cooperates with national and international for-profit and non-for-profit
organizations to increase awareness and promote mass screenings with the help of
Diaton Tonometer.

The eye care community is rapidly embracing Tonometer Diaton as a safe, easy and
accurate way to indicate high IOP levels, the precursor to Glaucoma. Early detection
of elevated intraocular pressure can aid Doctors to take preventative measures
keeping vision loss from occurring, or preventing further loss of sight. Without
major intervention, the number of blind people worldwide is estimated to increase to
76 million by 2020. By taking steps to raise awareness globally through screening
events and educational outreach, we are preserving sight and teaching future
generations that IOP screenings are as important as regular check-ups from your
physician. 75% of blindness is avoidable, World Sight Day is a wake-up call to the
public to take action and preserve vision.

Press Contact -

BiCOM Inc.

Heather Joy Roth / Media Relations

151 East Walnut Street

Long Beach, New York 11561

Toll Free: 1.877.diatons (877.342.8667) Ext. 706

Fax: 1.888.260.0606

E-Mail: Heather@TonometerDiaton.com



Web Site: http://www.TonometerDiaton.com

Contact Details: BiCOM Inc.
151 East Walnut Street
Long Beach, New York 11561

Toll Free: 1.877.diatons (877.342.8667) Ext. 706

Fax: 1.888.260.0606

E-Mail: Heather@TonometerDiaton.com

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