Infosan: About 100,000 people suffer from blindness in Romania. 70% of cases could be prevented through consultations

Approximately 100,000 people in Romania suffer from blindness, and statistics show that 70% of the cases could have been avoided if an ophthalmological consultation had been carried out in time, according to data from Infosan, the only private pediatric ophthalmology hospital in Romania.

At the same time, following a free screening campaign launched by Infosan in kindergartens in Bucharest, for the early identification of vision problems and the limitation of cases of blindness in children, it turned out that about 25% of them suffer from vision problems.

Infosan monitored in the first 6 months of the year 2457 children, aged between 3-6 years, and 626 of them were identified with vision problems.

Through ophthalmological screening, possible vision problems in children can be detected in time, allowing the prevention of serious conditions and medical intervention. This simple and non-invasive procedure that tests children’s vision was carried out in the classroom by a nurse and a representative of the Infosan Hospital, in 16 educational units in Bucharest. The results of the screening, including the identified values, were then sent to the parents along with recommendations.

Read more about

CONFIDENT becomes the communication agency of Infosan, the only private ophthalmopediatrics hospital in Romania

read more

The data resulting from the screening highlighted the need for continuous and extensive actions to prevent and treat eye diseases from the earliest ages.

“Eye disorders are unfortunately on the rise, and the collected data show us that they start to appear at younger and younger ages. Annual eye exams are essential for the prevention and early treatment of eye problems. They should be integrated into the childcare routine from the age of 1 mandatorily, as it happens in Western countries. At the same time, educating parents in identifying the first signs of vision problems for their children is essential. It is particularly important to monitor eye health, because many problems can be corrected if they are detected in time,” said Dr. Andreea Ciubotaru, Medical Director of Infosan Hospital and Vice-President of the Romanian Strabology and Ophthalmology Society.

In recent years, vision problems have increased, partly due to the early use of mobile devices, but also the lack of outdoor activities, in the natural light, which also affects the normal development of vision in children.

The global statistics on blindness are also alarming, especially in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 36 million people are blind and 217 million have moderate to severe visual impairment. Most of these cases could have been prevented or treated if there was access to proper eye care services.

Infosan set out to identify eye problems from an early age, during a critical period of vision development. Its mission is to contribute to the education of children, parents and teachers in identifying the main signs of vision disorders, in order to reduce the causes of blindness. The company aims to reach as many children as possible, including in other regions of the country, and is looking for partners to expand these screening and education campaigns. Through collaborations with schools, kindergartens and other institutions, Infosan wants to ensure access to ophthalmology consultations for all children, thus contributing to the prevention of vision disorders and improving their quality of life.