In these two years characterized by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has not been possible to perform millions of eye examinations, screenings and surgery for diseases that can lead to blindness. After the pandemic has stopped, it is urgent to start taking care of your eyes again. The Young Ophthalmologists Retinal Imaging Society, the scientific society of young ophthalmologists Retinal Imaging Society, raises the alarm but reassures: the future for patients at risk of vision loss is full of changes and technological innovations that are already accessible.
“In Italy – he explains Daniela Bacherini, president of Yoris – Sight-threatening diseases affect over 6 million people. Age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma are the main causes. Numbers in continuous growth that in the next 10 years could double not only due to the increase in life expectancy and chronic diseases but also due to the pandemic stop that has caused millions of visits and unsafe interventions to be skipped or postponed. Now an extraordinary effort is needed – organizational, training and technological – to make up for lost time and ensure the care of these patients “, is the expert’s warning.
Help – reads a note – can come from professionals who are increasingly experienced in using advanced technologies, artificial intelligence and telemedicine, as confirmed Rodolfo Mastropasqua, vice president Yoris: “The new generation of young ‘digital native’ ophthalmologists can make a fundamental contribution in a sector where increasingly advanced technology is an integral part of the business and a fundamental factor on which results depend. Retinal imaging techniques are an essential part of the diagnostic processes and are the subject of continuous study and research “.
“The result of the technological evolution in this field details Mastropasqua – is represented by the optical coherence tomography-angiography (Octa), a non-invasive and fast imaging technique which, like a CT scan, provides a three-dimensional and high-resolution reconstruction of the vessels. of the retina, with anatomical details of the ocular structures otherwise not visible to the human eye, such as to allow significantly faster diagnosis of many pathologies with a high social impact “. Like the diseases of the retina linked to diabetes, which are among the main causes of blindness in the world. Indeed, it is estimated that after 20 years of diabetes, 99% of patients with type 1 diabetes and 60% of those with type 2 diabetes have signs of diabetic retinopathy. Or like age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of visual impairment in the industrialized world, affecting approximately 170 million people globally, a figure set to rise to 288 million in 2040.
“In the light of these data, it is clear the importance of early diagnosis and how for doctors to have tools capable of studying retinal structures in a detailed, less invasive and faster way allows better management of the disease”, he declares Enrico Borrelli, vice president Yoris. “Furthermore, the digital images are collected during the visit, stored and then compared with the images collected at subsequent visits in order to be able to follow the progress of the pathologies over time. Integration into broader screening programs and teleophthalmology, combined with artificial intelligence, represents an exciting opportunity for the prevention of ocular complications. “
“Innovation runs fast. The availability of high quality digital images facilitates the comparison between remote colleagues and the approach of the specialists who work in the area to the reference centers “, Daniela Bacherini underlines.” Potentially, these could work as a single entity, able to manage patients in a widespread and at the same time more sustainable way from the point of view of costs and human resources used. As a scientific society – he concludes – we are committed to enhancing young people and developing professional collaboration with the specific aim of nurturing study and research in the field of retinal imaging. “
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