Bambino Gesù opens Italy’s first pediatric myopia clinic

The Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital has launched Italy’s first specialized outpatient clinic dedicated exclusively to myopia at its Palidoro location. The facility aims to provide personalized specialist pathways and targeted interventions to slow the progression of vision defects in children and adolescents.

Myopia affects over 2 million young people between the ages of 5 and 19 in Italy, representing approximately one in four individuals in that demographic. Experts link the rising prevalence to lifestyle changes, including increased screen time on smartphones and tablets and reduced outdoor activity.

Professor Luca Buzzonetti, head of the Ophthalmology Unit at Bambino Gesù, noted that intervening during childhood is essential to prevent serious adult complications such as retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, and glaucoma. The clinic will also focus on collecting clinical and epidemiological data to better understand the spread of the condition in Italy.