DUBLIN—Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) this week announced the launch of its “See America” campaign, a new U.S.-focused initiative to fight preventable blindness and to advocate for making vision health “a priority for all Americans.”

The campaign also is designed to increase awareness of the diseases that can cause preventable blindness and to help improve access to vision care for those who need it most, according to Allergan’s announcement. There are currently an estimated 61 million Americans at risk for severe vision loss, according to the announcement.

“Vision loss from diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy is affecting and destroying the lives of too many—with cases of preventable blindness increasing at such a frightening rate,” Allergan senior vice president, eyecare, Herm Cukier said in a statement. “We are launching See America to stress the importance of eye health. The time to act is now.”

Allergan said its launch of the new campaign follows the September 2016 publication of a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) that declared eye health a public health imperative.

Through the See America initiative, Allergan said it will partner with the eye health and safety organization Prevent Blindness to advocate better access to vision care. Through a series of vision-screening events in various cities, sponsored by Allergan, attendees will receive free one-on-one professional eye exams, follow-up treatment plans and education about the most common diseases affecting people's vision.

For more information about the campaign, visit the website See America website.