Eye health awareness campaigns in Italy

To mark World Sight Day on October 8, Fondazione Iapb Italia and the Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti, with support from the World Health Organization and the Presidency of the Italian Republic, have launched a campaign across more than 90 Italian cities. The initiative promotes early diagnosis and prevention of conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy through free eye screenings and consultations.

Regional efforts have expanded significantly. In Sicily, a network of nine eye clinics and three mobile ophthalmic units is operating across various provinces, including specialized services in Messina. Puglia is conducting screenings in Polignano a Mare, Taranto, and Lecce, with mobile clinics also targeting students in Cassano delle Murge. In Basilicata, services are scheduled in Avigliano and Matera, while Tuscany’s Asl Toscana Sud Est is providing slots for residents in Arezzo, Siena, and Grosseto, specifically targeting individuals over 40. Other activities include hospital open days in Cremona and Oglio Po.

Health experts continue to emphasize the urgency of these measures, noting that over 2.2 billion people live with vision impairment. Research highlights a projected rise in myopia, which may affect 40% of the global population by 2050. Additionally, data underscores a gender gap in vision loss, noting that women experience higher rates of severe impairment, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, compared to men.