Fondazione Iapb Italia launches eye health campaign in 90 Italian cities

To mark World Sight Day on October 8, Fondazione Iapb Italia and the Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti are launching a campaign across more than 90 Italian cities. The initiative includes free eye screenings, consultations, and various awareness events to promote early diagnosis and prevention.

According to the World Health Organization, over 2.2 billion people globally live with vision impairment or blindness, though at least half of these cases could be prevented or treated through timely intervention. In Italy, an aging population has led to a rise in chronic degenerative conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, affecting an estimated 3 million people.

Additionally, there is a significant global increase in myopia among children and adolescents, linked to lifestyle changes and increased screen time. Global myopia rates rose from 25% in 1990 to nearly 36% in 2023, with projections suggesting 40% of the youth population—approximately 740 million people—will be myopic by 2050.