THE FOUNDATION PERFORMED OVER 200 FREE CHECK-UPS IN GIJON ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD SIGHT DAY
Cataracts were detected on 40% of those checked.
To draw attention to the importance of having regular eye check-ups to detect potential pathologies that are difficult to detect, as they don’t cause any pain. This is the main aim of the campaign of free check-ups done by the Fundación Fernández-Vega last 8th of October on the occasion of the celebration of the World Sight Day. After 50 years celebrating this initiative in Oviedo, this year they chose to do it in Gijón, where a team constituted by Drs Miguel Naveiras and Eva Villota, optometrists Alberto Barros, Manuel Álvarez Prada and Carmen Merayo, secretary Vanessa Fernández and Abraham Álvarez, from maintenance, performed over 200 free check-ups to the citizens that approached the tent located at the Plaza del Instituto, widely known as Plaza del Parchís
The most common pathology was cataracts, detected on 40% of the individuals, followed by glaucoma and some retinal issues, with 20% each. 10% of the patients had some other pathology, while the remaining 10% was able to verify that they had a good ocular health; this does not mean that they should not do regular check-ups. Thus, Dr Eva Villota explained that, while some of the people that went through the tent on that day did not present cataracts and had good eye pressure, some presented poor vision and were advised to run some retinal tests as “there are many macular degeneration diseases amongst the elderly” and an early diagnosis is paramount.