Over 1,000 free eye tests were performed on adults and children at “G! Come Giocare” trade fair
Targeted and prompt performance of sight tests enables detection of eye disorders right from infancy, and said tests are a healthy habit for adults too. This is the premise for the awareness campaign promoted by the Commissione Difesa Vista (CDV) and Vision+ Onlus to offer free eye tests to both adults and kids alike in a playful framework, such as the “G! Come Giocare” trade fair.
«We thought that it would be the ideal place to involve a target we are very keen on, namely children – even little kids – because prevention must begin during early childhood» says the Knight of Labor, Vittorio Tabacchi, President of the CDV. «We are extremely pleased with the results achieved. More than one-thousand subjects – children and adults – attended the eye tests, and this proves the fact that, when targeted events are organized, Italian parents are very careful about the health of their children. Hence, the CDV is focusing its action on raising awareness of public opinion.»
From this standpoint, another important action focused on the asset vision was promoted at the World Sight Day, always by the CDV in cooperation with Vision+ Onlus. On 13th and 14th October a “white tram” was placed at the disposal of Milanese citizens and free sight testing was conducted on it. This occasion too recorded a highly positive response, counting about 300 sight tests performed in two working days.
«Anyhow, the screening provided on said occasions – both on the tram and at the trade fair – are not a substitute for a medical examination» continues Tabacchi, «but a first, important and unavoidable moment for raising awareness about this topic and underlying the importance of prevention, especially for children who should attend at least one eye examination during each key stage of their growth, namely at birth and at 2, 6 and 10 years of age.»
What has been specifically observed during sight tests performed at the trade fair with the auto refractometer (a tool for detecting refraction defects, such as myopia, astigmatism and hypermetropy)? «Only 30% of subjects had attended an eye examination at 3 and 5 years of age with reasonable "awareness" of any problems found» says Prof. Demetrio Spinelli, ophthalmologist and President of Vision+ Onlus. «Generally, even children with a family history of important sight disorders (including strabismus and amblyopia) had never attended an eye examination in the past.» Therefore, more than 50% of children was recommended to attend a complete eye examination either for refraction defects that had not been noticed or because they had never attended an eye examination.
«Our ophthalmologists and orthoptists who were present at the stand» continues Spinelli, «then explained and emphasized the point that it is essential to take children for an eye examination performed in conditions of cycloplegia (vision measured after instillation of eye drops that block the ciliary muscle, which regulates accommodation) during the most important stages of their life, especially if the family presents particular refraction defects or diseases (such as keratoconus).»
Even results on the follow-up of adults did not produce better conclusions: more than half the subjects were recommended to attend an eye examination, especially for nearsightedness. Adults were also reminded about the importance of an eye examination after the age of 40, especially for diseases, such as glaucoma, or disorders, such as presbyopia.
Therefore, once again cooperation between the Commissione Difesa Vista and Vision+ Onlus has proven to be winning, and so has the assessment framework “G! Come giocare”. The event organized by Assogiocattoli and the International Toy Fair, and backed by Fiera Milano, was the ideal choice to reach the family target, which extensively attended the event, a steadily growing trade fair, which recorded an attendance of 57,000 visitors this year, marking a 12% increase compared to last year.
