GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR CONSULTATION OF THE WEBSITE WWW.IAPB.IT
Warranties, privacy regulations and limitations of liability
Every visitor is asked to carefully read the followings conditions of use or consultation of this website (www.iapb.it). The fact of continuing in the use of, or in the consultation of the website itself, constitutes complete and tacit acceptance of the following conditions and other applicable regulations by the visitor.
1. The entire content of this website is protected by copyright. No part of this website may be reproduced, re-transmitted or otherwise used without the written consent of the international Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy, if not for the exclusive purposes of personal knowledge, non-profit popularization and research. In all cases of publication, texts can be quoted using quotation marks, while the source (the International Agency for the Prevention of the Blindness-IAPB Italy) must be explicitly specified, clearly stating at the same time the original internet address (www.iapb.it) in the context used or in the bibliography. In the case, however, where texts are used on other websites, you must always insert a link to the web page of the IAPB Italy from which the material was drawn (it is forbidden to freely reproduce these pages without express authorization [the requests for permission to reproduce the contents will be sent to [sezione.italiana@iapb.it]]).
2. Every reasonable effort is made to insert accurate and up-to-date information and data on the website. However, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy declines any responsibility in respect to the correctness of the data found within, and its use for any purpose; it specifies, in fact, that the information on this website is merely indicative and can not, and must not, replace any medical therapy. In all cases it is always advisable to consult a trusted ophthalmologist and follow the therapy prescribed after an eye exam.
3. Access to data, its use and content are intended to be at the user’s own risk. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy will not under any circumstance be held responsible for any special damage (direct, indirect or consequential and of any kind) deriving from the use or reliability of the available data. The documentation on pharmaceutical products is not an alternative to the consultation of a physician or other qualified health professional. Furthermore, the opinions expressed on the website do not necessarily reflect the positions of all the members of the IAPB Italy. A visitor/user who wishes to receive advice on a specific health problem should therefore always consult their own doctor. The documents and their related graphics published on this website may contain technical inaccuracies or typos. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy can make improvements or changes to the published information at any time.
4. Links to third-party websites lead out of this website and are outside the control of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy. Links to third-party websites are provided solely for visitor’s convenience and the inclusion of any third-party link does not imply the endorsement of the external website by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy. In particular, the information featured in the external website may not comply with the Legislative Degree no. 541/92, which regulates the advertising of medical products for human use.
5. If a visitor/user of this website wishes to forward questions, comments, suggestions and the like relating to the documents published on this same website, the content of the data will be considered unconfidential for the purpose of study, research and publication. However, the identity of the person will not be disclosed: it is “anonymized” in compliance with the law on privacy.
6. Visits to this website can be tracked. The international Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy will have the right to use such recordings for statistic evaluations, in order to ensure continuity of service and for the improvement of its websites. Please, do not use this website if you are in disagreement with this practice.
7. This website can be publicly accessed without automatically downloading undesired files (such as cookies or spywares). For those sections which are subject to the registration of personal data, please refer to the legislation regarding the protection of privacy [See [EU Regulation no. 679/2016 and Legislative Decree no. 196/2003]]. [[Published in the Italian Official Gazette no. 42, February 20, 2012]]
8. On the basis of what was written by the Italian Privacy Authority in the “Guidelines on the processing of personal data for the purpose of publication and dissemination in websites exclusively dedicated to health” , the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy draws the attention of the user to the risk that by entering sensitive data linked to identifying data on this website, they can be identified with their own specific pathology. This warning is also intended to indicate the necessary measures to protect one’s own and others’ privacy in the forum of the www.iapb.it website. Therefore the International Agency for the prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy specifies the following:
a) the name and surname are not requested during the registration procedure: it is possible to maintain anonymity by simply using a nickname as a username, which prevents personal identity from being traced; b) a user’s e-mail address is not automatically published; c) with regard to the contents entered by the user, it is recommended to:
I) reflect on the opportunity to insert, or not, personal data (including the e-mail address) that can reveal, even indirectly, their identity. Consider, for instance, the case in which the user, in detailing their own experience or describing their state of health, includes references to places, people, circumstances and contexts that also indirectly allow their identity to be traced; II) pay particular attention to the possibility of inserting, in their own interventions (posted on the various areas dedicated to health), data that can also indirectly reveal the identity of third parties such as, for instance, other people who share the same pathology, human experience or medical path of the post’s author; III) be fully aware that the text published in the forum of this website (i.e. what is posted) is automatically indexed by Google and other search engines. Therefore, if you do not want this to occur, you can use the same service of ophthalmological consultation by sending your request exclusively by e-mail to info@iapb.it. This way, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy gives the user the full right to opt between a confidential (strictly personal) request and a request which will be published on the forum and that can be consulted by everybody.
All contents of this website are protected by copyright and are the property of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy.
The materials of this website may not be reproduced, distributed or otherwise used without the prior written consent of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy or the Italian branch of IAPB. Private use may be only granted for the purpose of personal knowledge or research.
Paper based publications may quote brief passages of the texts in this website by using quotation marks and crediting us as a source (IAPB Italy). They should also expressly feature the www.iapb.it address in the same context or in the bibliography.
In the case of internet based publications, the original page which is being quoted should always be linked (however, it is forbidden to publish any content without prior consent: a written request should be sent to sezione.italiana@iapb.it). (Read all our Disclaimer)
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INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS-IAPB ITALY
IAPB Italy was founded in 1977 on the initiative of the Italian Society of Ophthalmology (SOI) and the Italian Union of the Blind. It was then officially recognized by the Italian State with Law no. 284 of 28th August 1997.
The reason that the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy was founded is due to the fact that that, on the one hand, visual impairment is a widespread problem throughout the world and, on the other hand, the culture of prevention is often still lacking.
IAPB IN THE WORLD
IAPB Italy is a branch of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB, a non-governmental organisation, which was established in London in 1975 as a coordinating, umbrella organisation to lead international efforts in blindness prevention activities. Its main purpose is to promote and support a global campaign against all forms of avoidable blindness, with a specific commitment towards low income communities.
The loss of sight is a real scourge in the poorer countries of the world: the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that currently there are 36 million blind people in the world, while 217 million people are visually impaired are, of which approximately 90% live in developing countries. However, visual disability – which affects approximately 253 million people worldwide – is avoidable or treatable in over 80% of cases according to the WHO. It is estimated that, in Italy alone, there are 1,383,922 people affected by low vision and 219,174 blind people, a total of 1,603,096 people (Source: IAPB Atlas).
IAPB Italy is also a member of the National Technical Committee for the prevention of blindness, which was established on 13th June 2017 by the Italian Ministry of Health and meets periodically at their premises.
ACTIVITY
The activities through which IAPB Italy implements its institutional aims of prevention and rehabilitation of the visually impaired cover different areas. In short, activities are as follows:
Health education programs
Secondary prevention campaigns (aimed at early detection of eye diseases)
Organisation of seminars and conferences
Production and distribution of informative material
Toll-free eye consultation phone line: 800 068506 (active from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 1 pm CET, available in Italy only, otherwise please call +39 06 36004929 from abroad)
Forum of current website (our ophthalmologist answers)
Diagnostic and vision rehabilitation centre for children with multi-sensory deficits, at the A. Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital.
ORGANISATION AND OBJECTIVES
The Italian branch of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy – for the purpose of coordinating national and international activities – has a central structure composed of the Board of Directors, the National Scientific Committee and the National Committee of Statutory Auditors, while locally it has territorial branches (Regional and Provincial Committees). As per art. 2 of its statute, among the main objectives of IAPB Italy is the prevention of blindness and vision rehabilitation of the visually impaired. More specifically, IAPB Italy carries out the following activities:
A) disseminates at a national, regional and local level the knowledge of the main eye diseases, which can cause blindness or low vision at all ages, promoting and supporting information campaigns, conferences and scientific meetings; in addition, it publishes and distributes scientific and informative material;
B) promotes study and research initiatives, also through collaboration agreements with the Italian State, Italian Regions, universities and hospitals – ophthalmology departments and institutions with similar aims – as well as with any other public or private body, aimed at implementing the prevention of blindness, vision rehabilitation and the psychological and social recovery of the visually impaired;
C) acts as a qualified interlocutor for the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, University and Research as well as for public and private agencies (international, national and local) to propose and encourage initiatives for the prevention of blindness and vision rehabilitation of the visually impaired;
D) promotes and organizes training and refresher courses for educators and vision rehabilitation therapists;
E) establishes or strengthens, also in agreement with other stakeholders, the Centres for vision rehabilitation of the visually impaired;
F) promotes and organizes initiatives for the prevention of visual impairments, also through the use of mobile ophthalmic units in Italy;
G) provides information and advice on visual impairment – by any appropriate means – to citizens, as well as offering direct support where necessary;
H) promotes and implements initiatives aimed at the prevention of blindness in particularly disadvantaged countries, within the framework of the IAPB and WHO programs, making them known to the Italian Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
CAMPAIGNS AND PROGRAMS
The activities through which IAPB Italy implements its institutional aims (prevention and rehabilitation of the visually impaired) cover different aspects of its prevention scope:
• Health education programs. Teaching younger generations correct hygiene behaviour to reduce the risks of contracting eye disorders and diseases is one of the privileged fields of action of the Italian branch of IAPB.
• The campaign “Keep an eye on the children” (“Occhio ai bambini”), the first edition of which started on 3rd March 2008, continues this year too: it is based on free eye exams in nurseries and primary schools, thanks to the use of specially equipped camper vans (mobile ophthalmic units). Eye screenings used to only involve children aged from 3 to 6 years old, and from 2013, they have been extended to primary schools (up to 11 years old): prevention of eye diseases is essential to ensure a better quality of life.
• The campaign “Open Your Eyes!” (“Apri gli Occhi”) campaign is a valuable educational tool intended to teach children ways of preventing major eye disorders. Over the past decade, more than 500,000 children have been reached in Italy (also in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Health). After concluding a first traditional cycle, which involved the presence of professional actors in the classroom, the campaign was relaunched in a multimedia format. In total, up to 1,438 Italian schools participated in the project up until the 2016-2017 school year. Today, the campaign is mainly aimed at primary school teachers, who can also participate in a contest together with their students by accessing a dedicated platform.
• The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-Italian branch periodically organizes seminars and conferences in order to spread the culture of prevention and vision rehabilitation of the visually impaired. Such events are generally open to citizens and journalists, to experts, university professors and specialists in eye healthcare and prevention of eye diseases.
• Production of informative material. Through the adoption of different communication formats, IAPB Italy created comics to teach children about their eyes and sight prevention (“Vediamoci Chiaro”), leaflets geared towards adults (focusing on issues such as “Glaucoma”, “Low vision and rehabilitation”, “The prevention of eye diseases “, “Diabetic Retinopathy”, “Dry Eye “, “Keratoconus”, “Cataract”, “Strabismus”, ecc.), and DVDs, posters and leaflets.
• This website. In order to provide correct information in the field of the prevention of visual impairment and vision rehabilitation, IAPB Italy constantly updates its official website (www.iapb.it), most often with international news. Mainly news in the field of ophthalmology is published, with particular attention given to the activities of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (medical-scientific information, news on the prevention of the most common eye diseases, a map of the most authoritative vision rehabilitation centres in Italy). There is also an interactive area called “Ask the ophthalmologist”, a forum where internet users can obtain free advice and information about ophthalmology related issues from an ophthalmologist (who is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CET, Monday to Friday).
• Social Ophthalmology-Public Health Journal (“Oftalmologia Sociale-Rivista di sanità pubblica”). Since 1977 the IAPB Italy has been publishing a quarterly scientific journal that aims to give space to research in the areas of prevention, vision rehabilitation and epidemiology, with a generally informative style. For some years the magazine has been printed in colour, but it has also always been available in Braille for blind people, upon request ; in addition to the traditional paper version, a digital version it is also available on this website as an archive up to the penultimate issue (in pdf or in word format). The current issue is only available to subscribers.
• Toll free number for eye health consultation. The need to correctly inform citizens in the field of ophthalmology has led to the implementation of a toll free number for eye health consultation, which is available every morning from Monday to Friday (active from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 1 pm CET, available in Italy only, otherwise please call +39 06 36004929 from abroad). This service has proved to be very useful for thousands of people who call every year to obtain medical and scientific information on eye pathologies, as well as to enquire about the services provided by IAPB Italy and public health facilities.
• Projects in developing countries. IAPB Italy has run its own projects in Ethiopia (construction of 113 wells), Morocco, Burkina Faso (through the IAPB Committee of Tuscany) and Congo. Furthermore, in order to give maximum effectiveness to action plans to combat avoidable blindness in poor areas of the world, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-Italian Branch has established close working relationships with the World Health Organization, other institutional stakeholders (Ministries, Municipalities, etc.) and various non-governmental organizations active in this field.
• VISION 2020: The Right to Sight. A joint programme launched by the IAPB and the WHO, it was subsequently managed by the IAPB alone and received the support of over 20 international NGOs active in the field of eye health prevention. The programme aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness (or at least reducing it). Its objectives were then included in the WHO global action plan for the prevention of avoidable blindness and low vision (read more).
• International activity against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). IAPB Italy, as a member of the World Council of the AMD Alliance International (a coalition of international organizations), has been committed for several years to the prevention of this highly debilitating eye pathology, that affects the centre of the retina.
PERIODICAL CAMPAIGNS FOR PREVENTION
Every year, IAPB Italy celebrates World Sight Day on the second Thursday of October. It provides, in most cases, free eye exams open to the public for diagnostic and prevention purposes. On the same occasion a press conference takes place in an institutional location. Furthermore, information leaflets are distributed to inform citizens about the main eye diseases and the healthy behaviour to prevent them.
The World Glaucoma Week is celebrated in March. In this case, too, eye exams are usually performed in public urban areas using, among other things, an instrument for measuring eye pressure (tonometer).
Diabetes can have serious consequences on vision: this is why the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness periodically promotes campaigns, which are aimed at an early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.
DIAGNOSTICS AND REHABILITATION SERVICES
National Center of Services and Research for the Prevention of Blindness and Vision Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired. Inaugurated on 11th October 2007 in Rome (according to law no. 291 of 16th October 2003), it is based at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital. This is a project that has become a reality especially thanks to the commitment of the President of IAPB Italy, Mr. Giuseppe Castronovo, but also thanks to the support of the Ministry of Health and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Its main activity is to conduct research on vision problems and vision rehabilitation of the visually impaired, thus providing an important contribution to the prevention of blindness in Italy. In 2013, the National Center became a WHO Collaborating Centre on Prevention of Blindness and Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired. In December 2015, the National Centre organized an international conference on vision rehabilitation standards worldwide (guidelines are being defined, which are reviewed in 2016 by the WHO General Assembly).
Diagnostic and vision rehabilitation centre for children with multi-sensory deficits, which was inaugurated on 13th December, 2012 at the A. Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome, following an agreement between the hospital (in particular the child neuropsychiatry department) and the International Agency for prevention of blindness-IAPB Italy. In a dedicated environment, families can work with all the professional that are needed to achieve an optimal psychomotor development of their child. This approach can contribute to improving the quality of life of both children (from birth) and their parents. The team includes child neuropsychiatrists specialising in visual functions, ophthalmologists, neonatologists and rehabilitation experts for low vision. In this way, the greatest number of exams can be carried out in a short time, thus avoiding infants and other children the inconvenience of “pilgrimages” to uncoordinated specialists. The Centre’s activity is carried out both at the neuropsychiatry outpatient clinic of the A. Gemelli hospital (at a diagnostic level) and at the premises of the National Services and Research Centre for the Prevention of Blindness and Vision Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired IAPB Italia.
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness-IAPB Italy is a non-profit organization registered in the Registro degli Operatori di Comunicazione (R.O.C.), no. 584
