The initiative born out of a collaboration between
community pharmacies of the Gruppo Admenta Italia and the union
association of eye specialists and orthoptists (Asmooi) with the support
of the Società Mediterranea di Ortottica (Mediterranean Society of
Orthoptics) was aimed at creating people's awareness about the importance
of early detection of visual problems in children and adults.
"The
collaboration with orthoptists", explained Aldo Marmotti, the person in
charge of the development of professional services for the Gruppo Admenta
Italia, "is part of the role that pharmacies must play which is to
participate in the development of health education programs and prevention
campaigns relating to the main pathologies having a strong social impact.
It is important to create awareness among citizens on issues relating to
health and well-being, working on the modifiable risk factors and
lifestyles."
When should a child be submitted to a test by a
professional? Naturally, whenever it is suspected that there is a visual
problem. However, even if no problem is detected, it is of the utmost
importance that children undergo tests at least at the age of three and
during elementary school to ensure vision is at its
best.
- closing only one eye with the hand brings child to tears or instills fear;
- both eyes' pupils do not have the same black colour, but are rather whitish;
- both eyes do not seem perfectly aligned;
- in the presence of intense light, child tends to shut one eye;
- during games and reading, child adopts the wrong posture (stiff neck);
- during visual concentration, child complains of burning eyes, shedding tears, headache;
- child tends to come very close to objects to look
at them.
The initiative was quite appreciated by families who not only
had access to a free exam by qualified staff, but were given useful
information and suggestions. In fact, children have difficulty recognizing
their own visual problem because they cannot compare what they experience
with anything. That is why it is important for parents to know how to
carefully observe the eyes of their own children as well as their
behaviour in order to discover any hidden sight
problems.