Piovella (Soi): “Sight can be saved, let’s think about our eyes”

“The Italian ophthalmological society has shown that, between now and 2030, the number of people with severe vision damage will double. October 13 is a day in which we must absolutely think about our eyes and understand that, if one sees badly, he has a 83% penalty. These are the numbers. But today there are all the opportunities “and the technology to” prevent, to save sight, even in old age. “So Matteo Piovella, president of the Italian ophthalmological society (Soi), on the occasion of the World Sight Day, which is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of October. “We must take care of our eyes – Piovella underlines – this is also the day of prevention. We need to put on our shoulders the ability to preserve our sight. An eye examination, with the appropriate technologies and the ability of ophthalmologists to frame every pathology “, allows to find” fantastic solutions for more than 95% of the diseases that previously led to blindness “. On the actions to be taken to achieve effective prevention, President Soi reminds us when to do an eye examination: “At birth, within 3 years, the first day of school, from 10 to 15 years to prevent myopia, then we jump to 40 , every 2 years, until the age of 60 and, afterwards, once a year “. Today” we are aware that ‘sight saves you for life’, I have been saying for years – adds Piovella – but it is real. An ophthalmologist and all doctors, when confronted with a person who, even for a short period, does not have the opportunity to see everyday things “, realizes that” the situation is more demanding “, especially” if we know that “this condition it can be “avoided. The State guarantees us many things – he concludes – but for ophthalmology, for sight, it is in a moment of crisis. Let’s make ourselves accountable. We as Soi have been doing it since 1869, as our logo says ‘in defense of sight’ “.