A chat with Prof. Giorgio Marchini on the eve of the congress
Verona will host the First Joint National A.I.S.G.-S.I.Gla Congress on Glaucoma from 18 to 20 June 2015.
In fact, this is the first time that the two scientific societies A.I.S.G. (Italian Association for the Study of Glaucoma), whose President is Prof. Federico Grignolo, and S.I.Gla (Italian Glaucoma Society), whose President is Dr. Lucio Zeppa, will meet to take stock of the knowledge and treatment of this disease.
All the conditions are there for it to be a major event of high scientific importance. In fact, leading Italian experts will meet and discuss the most important new developments in the field of glaucoma, both diagnostically and therapeutically, as well as controversial issues relating to the management of this serious eye disease.
On the eve of the Congress, we asked the organiser Prof. Giorgio Marchini, Director of the Eye Clinic at the University of Verona, a few questions on the fly.
Glaucoma is an insidious disease, often referred to as 'the silent thief of sight'. Can we draw a brief picture of its incidence?
An epidemiological study conducted in Italy at the end of the 1990s revealed that 73% of the people found to be affected by this disease did not know they had it. Glaucoma is therefore a disease with significant social importance, in which prevention plays a key role.
Educating the population about the need to undergo a regular eye examination after the age of 40 (every 1 to 2 years), including measurement of intraocular pressure and an examination of the optic nerve, would make it possible to identify the vast majority of those affected, make the treatment of this disease more effective, and have a not inconsiderable impact on public health resources.
What has been the contribution of Italian researchers in this specific field, both in terms of diagnosis and therapy?
The contribution of Italian researchers to improving knowledge of glaucoma has been and is significant. It can be said that there is no specific field of research on this disease that does not see Italian groups successfully engaged: identification of new markers for early diagnosis, development and implementation of new and increasingly sophisticated technologies, validation and verification of new medical, laser and surgical therapies (increasingly less invasive) up to the design of rehabilitation models of the visual system based on nanotechnologies. On all these topics, Italy is at the forefront.
What is the most widely used treatment protocol to manage this condition today?
The main measure to treat glaucoma is to lower the intraocular pressure to a level that is able to slow down and stop the suffering and loss of optic nerve fibres. This can be achieved by using eye drops, even several drugs in combination, or specific laser treatments and surgery, all of which always aim to reduce intraocular pressure.
Other therapies, aimed at protecting the optic nerve and achieving what is termed 'neuroprotection', have also been under investigation for the past few years. In this new therapeutic field we have so far not very effective drugs, but the research is promising. If the intraocular pressure can then be lowered very efficiently, a modest recovery of function is also possible. This has always been considered not possible, but recent data seem to be able to confirm this, albeit to a small extent.
We would like to thank Prof. Marchini for his time and wish him and the Presidents of A.I.S.G. and S.I.Gla. our best wishes for repeating this joint experience in the years to come.
For more information on this important event, please consult the mini-site created by Jaka Congressi on this page: http://aisg-sigla-2015.jaka.it/
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
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