"Uniforyoureyes - The University for your eyes" embraces the whole city. The free visual analysis and optometric examination service offered by the Centre for Research in Optics and Optometry (COMiB) of the Department of Materials Science of the University of Milano-Bicocca is now aimed not only at Zone 9, but at the entire city of Milan. The initiative, which is being relaunched during the month dedicated to the prevention of visual impairment, will allow them to undergo an optometric eye test without any formalities and to receive the necessary glasses free of charge.
The beneficiaries will be selected from among the adults and children involved in the activities of "QuBì. A recipe against child poverty", a programme promoted by Fondazione Cariplo to support families with minors in situations of poverty through a network of third sector organisations. The "G. Galilei - R. Luxemburg" technical and vocational institute in Milan - optician course, Lions Club Milano Bramante Cinque Giornate, Centro Style, Hoya Lens Italia, Viatris Italia and Vanni Occhiali are also involved in the initiative.
This is a real optical chain involving companies in the sector. It starts with an optometric examination, lasting 45 minutes per subject, carried out by graduates in optics and optometry at the COMiB centre, according to the most advanced standards of the World Council of Optometry. In cases where a need for vision correction or correction of existing vision is identified, the next step is to make the necessary spectacles. The assembly of the frames and lenses, which are provided by partner companies and institutions in the project, is carried out with the help of students from the 'Galilei' and the Degree Course in Optics and Optometry.
The 'Uniforyoureyes' service will be implemented for the first time in the 2019-2020 biennium and will be repeated in the 2021-2022 biennium. During this period, 428 people benefited from the project. 471 pairs of glasses were distributed; 105 people received two pairs - one for close reading and one for distance reading - while 124 pairs of glasses were given to minors, most of whom had never used corrective lenses, although they felt the need to do so.
Ophthalmological examinations were recommended to those concerned, especially to those who had not recently had their eyes examined and to 46 people with specific problems.
In the first six months of this year, 128 people were seen, 84 of them minors. 96 eyeglasses were distributed, of which 56 were to minors. The goal for 2023 is to provide optometric care to at least 260 people.
The initiative aims to provide a permanent and continuous optometric service to citizens in a state of economic fragility.
"On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of our University," says the Rector of the University of Milano-Bicocca, Giovanna Iannantuoni, "we are proud to continue to offer our expertise in a unique project that goes beyond the boundaries of the district where it was born to address the entire city. The Centre for Research in Optics and Optometry is a flagship social development initiative that brings together the public and private sectors for the benefit of the community, offering additional support to individuals and families in need. The figures from previous years show the value of 'Uniforyoureyes'".
"Our I.I.S. Galileo Galilei - Rosa Luxemburg Institute," explain Monica Speziali and Barbara Merli, teachers of the school's optics course, "has been run for several years by the school's director, Prof. Annamaria Borando. It trains qualified and licensed opticians and is the only one in the province of Milan. We are always keen to open our school to charitable initiatives. Students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a very important life experience, offering their service and knowledge to good practice, as Uniforyoureyes so well represents. It is with deep gratitude that we renew our support for this project.
In a context where inequalities are on the increase," says Giovanni Azzone, President of the Cariplo Foundation, "the basic needs of people must be taken into account. The right to health is certainly one of them. There are families who cannot afford even the most basic care or, as in other cases, prevention. The Cariplo Foundation's QuBì programme works on several levels: certainly by providing food for those who do not have it, by finding jobs, by combating school drop-outs, and so on. But it is also important to keep an eye on health problems, with concrete actions. As has been the case in recent years with support for dental care, this initiative focuses on vision problems. All of this has a lot to do with what I call precision welfare: getting each person what they really need.
"We are delighted to renew our support for the project, which is in line with Viatris' mission to enable people around the world to live healthier lives at every stage," comments Fabio Torriglia, Country Manager of Viatris Italy. "We strongly believe in the value of partnerships to provide access to health for all people, regardless of where they live and in what context. Together with all the stakeholders involved in this project, we can have a positive and concrete impact on the lives and well-being of many people".
"We started working on the UniForYourEyes project in 2021," says Alessandra Girardi, Vice President of Vanni Occhiali, "firmly convinced that close care is the key to the well-being of citizens, with particular attention to the most vulnerable groups, and an opportunity for sustainable development of territories, responding to those in need where they are; we are delighted that today the project includes the entire city of Milan. We have not hesitated to support this project because we believe that, with our small contribution, we can provide complete visual well-being, which includes making people feel good and beautiful by wearing stylish glasses. Thanks to this collaboration, the university, the private sector and the region are entering into a constructive dialogue, also for the benefit of future generations of optometrists".
"Our logo represents the heart of what we do: around people. We are close to the people, we listen to their needs to always find an effective and timely solution", says Pietro Conti, General Manager of Centro Style. "This year, together with the partner companies, we have taken part in this laudable initiative to make a positive contribution to the visual well-being of the less fortunate, with a particular focus on children, in order to guarantee them a clear and happy future.
"As pioneers in the field of optics, we at HOYA believe it is our duty to contribute to the solution of problems related to visual well-being, which are often left untreated due to a lack of awareness, resources and intervention," says Maurizio Veroli, Managing Director of Hoya Lens Italia. - We are happy to be part of the UniForYourEyes project for two reasons: on the one hand, we are giving students, the optometrists of tomorrow, the opportunity to practice and above all to develop listening and empathy with people, a value that is definitely acquired in the field; on the other hand, we are giving concrete support to those around us who often have unheard needs. We are delighted to work with the associations and companies involved in this noble initiative, offering our community a service aimed at improving vision and quality of life".
"We Lions were born in 1917 as 'Knights of Light' - recalls Francisco Morejon, President of the Lions Club Milano Bramante Cinque Giornate - to help the blind and visually impaired in their daily lives. And this is one of the many missions that we carry out all over the world. Participating in a programme like this with the Centre for Research in Optics and Optometry (COMiB) of the University of Milan-Bicocca, with whom we have collaborated in the past, is certainly another way of "serving the community". It is also important and interesting to create synergies between the public and private sectors for the benefit of the less fortunate, thanks also to the support of companies in the sector and associations already present in the area. The union of all these forces can only be a promoter of well-being and social care'.