The “Your point of view matters” campaign on maculopathy arrives in Potenza

As part of the awareness initiative, a day of free screening will take place on Saturday 11 May in Potenza

POWER – It starts from Potenza the first 2024 leg of the campaign ‘Your point of view matters – don’t let eye disease stop you’ to raise awareness of maculopathies, in particular Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). The initiative, presented in the Gregorio Inguscio room of the Palazzo della Basilicata Regionis promoted by Roche Italy under the patronage of Ocular Diseases Patients Association (APMO), Macula Committee, Retina Italia ODV And Italian Society of Ophthalmological Sciences (YES I KNOW). The Lucanian stage is also sponsored by the Basilicata Region.

The main objective is to bring out the unmet needs of patients and caregivershighlighting crucial aspects such as maintaining an active social and working life and underlining the importance of prevention as a tool essential for improving quality of life of those living with this pathology. With these objectives, during the campaign, they will be carried out free screenings on the national territory, performed by a specialist using optical coherence tomography (OCT). An itinerary that stops in various Italian cities and that it will start from Potenza tomorrow, Saturday 11 May, in the Angelo Laurino Auditorium of the Santa Cecilia complex, in Piazza Don Pinuccio Lattuchella. During this day, free first-level eye exams will be carried out for the population most at risk by age (over 50 years) for the prevention of maculopathy.

WHAT ARE MACULOPATHIES

Maculopathies are eye diseases that affect the area located in the center of the retina, i.e. the macula. The most widespread are age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema, which mainly affect people over 50, the most representative age group of the Italian population with a full social and often working life. These conditions also have a huge impact on the quality of life of patients and their caregivers.

“Maculopathies exert a significant impact on daily life, presenting complex challenges for those who live with it. Loss of autonomy, regardless of age, often discourages patients leading to a reduction in therapeutic adherence, but it is essential to recognize that there are resources and opportunities available to address this condition,” he explains Aurora De Magistris, medical director responsible for Medical Retina and Laser Treatments of the Ophthalmology Unit of the San Carlo Hospital in Potenza. “In this context – she adds – the information linked to the different aspects of the pathology can play a decisive role in the diagnostic pathways and in maintaining positive adherence to therapy”.

Maculopathies are not all the same. Age-related macular degeneration affects the part of the retina responsible for clear, detailed central vision and, depending on how the macula is damaged, there are two types: dry AMD and neovascular or wet AMD. Neovascular or ‘wet’ AMD (nAMD) is the most advanced form and is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of new abnormal blood vessels under the retina. If untreated, can cause rapid and severe vision loss. Approximately 20 million people worldwide suffer from nAMD, which is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 60. In Italy, it mainly affects the 65-69 and over 85 age groups with an incidence of 2.1% and 3.7% respectively. Diabetic macular edema (DME) is also a serious vision disorder complication of diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Around the world, around 21 million people suffer from it. High glucose levels the small blood vessels of the retina deteriorate and, once damaged, begin to bleed and leak liquids into the macula. The accumulation of fluids then causes edema. If not treated adequately it can lead to significant vision loss and worsening of the quality of life of patients affected by it.

TREATMENT FOR MACULOPATHIES

To date, the main treatment for maculopathies involves the use of VEG inhibitors (vascular endothelial growth factor), a protein that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. In most patients, VEGF inhibitors, administered through intravitreal injections, can improve vision if the diagnosis is early and the treatment is timely and if performed in regular cycles over time. However, despite their positive impact on the therapeutic management of these pathologies, several problems related to them still remain frequent administration of these treatments and, ultimately, the long-term effectiveness after their discontinuation. Today Scientific research has made great strides forward and has made new treatments available with different mechanisms of action, which last longer and are highly effective.

“To promote innovation and research in the healthcare sector favoring close collaboration between the Regional Health Service, hospitals and the territory represents the essential element for the integration of effective clinical pathways to be possible – he comments Domenico Lacerenza, director of the Ophthalmology Unit of the San Carlo hospital in Potenza -. Keep one active, independent and healthy life it is an objective that can be achieved through targeted prevention and adequate diagnostic-therapeutic pathways. For this reason it is necessary to raise awareness among citizens and generate awareness in them of the importance of taking care of their well-being and visual health”. For Lacerenza, “la early diagnosis: you need to know that, statistically, after the age of forty, the study of the ocular fundus in general, and of the macula in particular, is important, precisely to intercept the various types of maculopathy in the initial stages”.

Symptoms related to maculopathies can appear after a long time, sometimes when the pathology is in an advanced stage. It is for this reason that information, prevention and early diagnosis become a fundamental element in combating them. A concept also highlighted by Giuseppe Spera, general director of the Aor San Carlo of Potenza: “The hospital company, which does not have immediate and direct competence on screening, always gives its support in these initiatives, provides its specialist staff free of charge, first of all for the well-being of the citizen, but also for the state of health of the regional and national health system”.

SCREENINGS ARE FUNDAMENTAL

“Today – he comments Massimo Privet, president of the Macula Committee – the level of information and knowledge of maculopathies is still inadequate, despite their diffusion. What emerges is a strong lack of information on therapeutic paths and daily difficulties that prevent patients from taking care of themselves.” “For years our associations have been operating throughout the national territory, dedicating themselves with commitment to promoting correct information and encouraging more widespread preventive practices”, he continues Assia Andrao, president of Retina Italia OdV. “We believe it is essential to encourage a common dialogue between clinicians, patient associations and institutions in order to improve the patient’s path and guarantee adequate support for them and their families”, concludes Michele Allampreseexecutive director of the Ocular Disease Patients Association.

Starting from Potenza, the campaign will continue along the southern regions to raise awareness among citizens and encourage greater awareness and commitment to prevention. “We enthusiastically support awareness initiatives like this, which promote prevention, collaborating with other institutions for a common political commitment aimed at building a healthcare system capable of responding to the real needs of citizens. The Basilicata Region’s support for these activities represents a step forward in our health policy, promoting greater awareness of maculopathies and the importance of prevention”, he states Massimo Mancinigeneral director for Health and Personal Policies of the Basilicata Region.