Did you know that high myopia (which requires an optical correction of -6 diopters or more) can lead to irreversible complications? It is to inform the general public of these risks that Professor Nicolas Leveziel, head of the ophthalmology department of the university hospital center of Poitiers and president of the scientific committee of Amam (Association for the fight against myopic maculopathy) will give a conference , Saturday October 15, 2022, in Chartres as part of the prevention session organized by Amam.
What is myopic maculopathy?
In very myopic people, the eye is larger. Its tissues are stretched and therefore more fragile, in particular the retina which risks peeling off. The area in the center, the macula, can also be affected by a set of pathologies which, if left untreated, result in the loss of near vision. The risk of glaucoma is also three to four times higher than the rest of the population.
How many people are affected?
According to a study published in an international journal, 2 to 3% of the world’s adult population has myopia greater than -6 diopters and 0.5% has myopia greater than -10 diopters. About 30% of these very very myopic people are partially sighted or blind by the age of 60. For these patients, glaucoma screening should begin at age 40 instead of age 50.
Are there ways to escape maculopathy?
Surveillance is the only solution for adults, who must see their ophthalmologist every year if they are at risk. The fundus examination, a painless examination, makes it possible to monitor the retina. There are also diagnostic tools, such as optical coherence tomography, a medical imaging technique, which allow early detection of maculopathy.
Can we curb myopia to avoid these risks?
Recently, there are actually ways to slow it down in children: glasses, lenses, drops, all well tolerated and which gradually reduce the development of myopia by 60%. We will talk about it during the information session in Chartres. This is all the more important as the number of myopes will increase in the years to come due to our lifestyles and the increasingly intensive use of screens.
When should you consult urgently?
If there is a decrease in vision, there may be a risk of retinal detachment. In the case of a maculopathy, we can also see a decrease in vision, a deformation, a veil or a black spot in the center. Do not hesitate to go see your ophthalmologist. 50% of nearsighted people believe that their loss of vision is a problem with glasses. It’s wrong.
But getting an appointment quickly is not necessarily easy, especially in areas of medical desertification…
There are always emergency slots in ophthalmologists which allow patients to be taken care of quickly. For regular screening, appointments must be planned in advance. The main thing is not to waste time.
The program for Saturday, October 15, 2022
Au administrative center of Chartres, Place des Halles. Free entry on registration at 06.29.65.62.24 or [email protected].
From 2:30 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. Welcome, presentation. By Sabine Ballery, referent of Amam Centre-Val de Loire and Madeleine Linck, president of Amam. Guest of honor: Doctor Anne-Sophie Blanc-Petavy, ophthalmologist in Dreux.
From 2:40 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. Conference. “Myopia, simple refractive error or progressive disease? Update on the evolving risks and current therapeutic possibilities. » By Professor Nicolas Leveziel, head of the ophthalmology department at the Poitiers University Hospital, chairman of the scientific committee of the Amam-myopia association.
From 3:40 p.m. to 4 p.m. Questions. Pause.
From 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Aides. “Psychological care of patients with impaired visual acuity” by Pierre-Marie de Clavières, psychologist at the Auvergne Low Vision Center in Clermont-Ferrand.
From 4:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Questions.
From 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Conference. “The privilege of seeing”, seeing and perceiving, seeing and knowing, learning to see by Jean-Noël Cueille, philosopher. Discussions and conclusions.
To the Malraux space in Luisant, 106, avenue Maurice-Maunoury. At 8:30 p.m., comedy I would love to see you there by Édouard Mutez, directed by Florence Fakhimi. Free admission. Information at 06.29.65.62.24 or [email protected].
Laurence Franceschina
[email protected]