Two websites on low vision and senior optometry are promoted

The Official College of Opticians-Optometrists of Andalusia (COOOA) and the Seville City Council have launched two informative web platforms, aimed at professionals and patients as well as families and caregivers. With these pages they focus, on the one hand, on senior optometrythat is, the visual problems that are generated by the aging process, and, on the other hand, in low vision.

This initiative is part of the collaboration agreement maintained by both entities to promote healthy lifestyle habits and prevent vision problems.

“From the Seville City Council we support initiatives like this, which they put innovation and knowledge at the service of people and help improve quality of life through prevention and information“, highlighted in this sense the first deputy mayor of Seville, Juan Buenoduring the presentation, which was also attended by the Councilor for Health Promotion, Blanca Gastalveras well as Blanca Fernandezdean-president of the COOOA, and Begoña Gacimartín and Teyma Valeroexpert opticians-optometrists, project directors.

In Spain People over 64 years of age already represent more than 20% of the population (there are 10,178,625 people over 64 years of age, 2.52% more than in 2024), according to the Annual Population Census of the National Institute of Statistics (INE). This implies, as indicated in a note, a progression in the number of people who will experience chronic conditions associated with age, such as vision problems. In fact, In Andalusia it is estimated that more than 160,000 people suffer from low vision.

This is why the president of the COOOA has highlighted that it cannot be assumed “that vision loss is a barrier to active aging”.

This initiative thus arises to “continue promoting the standard of visual care, offering tools that facilitate excellence and serve as a basis for continuous training of our members, as well as a space where patients can find answers to your questions and needs“.

Two platforms for professionals and patients

The two platforms that have been launched, now available, will be updated periodically with new content backed by science.

• Senior Optometry: aims to address the challenges of visual aging through practical guides and sections with resources for prevention, guidelines and support tools.
• Low Vision Headlight: includes resources for patients and a section for professionals with information and news about low vision, as well as other conditions that affect visual health. It also includes a forum where you can ask questions and queries, and share current and interesting news.

These platforms have the scientific rigor of Begoña Gacimartín and Teyma Valero, both PhDs, opticians-optometrists and clinical consultants of recognized prestige, directors of the project, which they described as “reference digital space that connects science, clinical practice and citizenship”, and which seeks to “reinforce the role of visual health in primary care through reliable information, health education and accessible resources “both for professionals and for the general population.”