The National Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation Centre was created in 2007 as an IAPB Italia Onlus (non-profit organization) project, an International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness – the Italian branch and, since the beginning, has been located within the Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS thanks to a collaboration agreement.
The Centre is one of the international crown jewels regarding vision rehabilitation worldwide, and for the third three-year period in a row, in May 2020 it was confirmed as the Collaborating Centre of the World Health Organization. It was the first globally in this field.
The ultimate goal of the Centre is to help people with low vision to regain self-sufficiency and freedom, starting with psychological support and proceeding with multi-disciplinary activities that enhance residual vision and train patients to use optical, electronic and computer aids.
But that’s not all: even the advancement of scientific research is an integral part of the Centre’s mission, in order to transfer patients’ acquired skills and best practice developed in this centre of highest excellence, with the goal of making vision rehabilitaion accessible and widespread in Italy as well as throughout foreign healthcare systems (thanks to the collaboration with the WHO).
Finally, the Centre focuses, through publications, research and advocacy activities, on scientifically demonstrating the benefits of vision rehabilitation and make it acknowledged as an integral part of the healthcare pathway, according to this scheme: prevention – treatment – rehabilitation. For this to become reality in our Healthcare System, the Centre has committed itself, since its creation, toward raising awareness in institutions so that adequate financial and human resources are allocated to centres throughout Italy.
Learn more at www.polonazionaleipovisione.it
