At the beginning of July, the “Trust Your Eyes” project was launched in the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering a new approach to patient care through intraocular pressure and dry eye measurements carried out in pharmacies. Measurements were carried out in two pharmacies in Sarajevo and one in Gračanica, performed by specialist doctors with support from the JGL team, creating a synergistic effect in promoting JGL's Rx and OTC product portfolios.
The project has received strong support from ophthalmologists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it places a spotlight on public health. The project proved extremely valuable during its first campaign, as several patients were found to have elevated intraocular pressure and were referred for further testing to prevent glaucoma.
The “Trust Your Eyes” project was launched in 2021 in the Croatian market, followed by the Serbian and Slovenian markets. Intraocular pressure measurements in pharmacies are performed by ophthalmologists using a non-contact tonometer, while eye dryness is assessed with Schirmer strips. To date, more than ten thousand measurements have been conducted.
“Trust Your Eyes” brings significant value to all involved stakeholders – pharmacists, ophthalmologists, patients, and JGL as a socially responsible company committed to their health. The initiative provides free preventive eye screenings to the wider population, thereby contributing to improved patient quality of life and early detection of glaucoma. Early detection of disease can significantly reduce the risk of blindness and ultimately improve treatment outcomes and quality of life.
Health findings have revealed concerning trends – approximately one-third of those tested in 2024 were diagnosed with borderline or elevated intraocular pressure, while 10.4% of patients had high intraocular pressure (>21 mmHg), which, if left untreated, can lead to serious consequences, including vision loss. These findings highlight the key value of the project – not only in identifying individuals at risk of glaucoma but also in enabling early intervention that can preserve vision and improve quality of life.
Key Performance Indicator for Sustainability-Linked Bonds
The “Trust Your Eyes” project is one of the key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with the long-term ESG goals of the JGL Group, based on which Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs) were issued at the end of 2024. The target is to reach a total of 70,000 users of free eye hypertension screenings by the end of 2028, cumulatively across all countries where JGL operates. From 2021 to 2024, 10,582 screenings have been conducted across three markets, representing over 15% of the overall goal.