Dr. Monés participates in the presentation of the Da Visión Programme for AMD patients

The Novartis project Da+Visión, which aims to help with the monitoring of AMD patients and enjoys the support of the Institut de la Màcula, was recently presented at a press conference in Madrid.

Dr. Monés, the Programme coordinator and the Director of the Institut de la Màcula  and the Barcelona Macula Foundation, attended the event to explain the objectives of the initiative: “Da+Visión aims to improve the monitoring of AMD. It provides educational and motivational materials to both patients and their relatives in order to improve their understanding and managing of all the disease's phases.”

Psychological support for patients and their environment, such as their relatives or carers, and the importance of rehabilitating low vision, are among the Programme's features. “This new platform enables opthalmologists to improve the levels of monitoring and assistance for our patients, providing them with better medical care,” Dr. Monés explained.

“Da+Visión has been devised to be of value to patients. Unlike other programmes - Dr. Monés continued- ‘Da+Visión’ provides AMD sufferers and their relatives with educational materials about the disease together with psychological support and monitoring”.

The centres and experts taking part in the initiative, such as the Institut de la Màcula, also offer a set of recommendations, adaptations of visual aid and low vision exercises. In order to guarantee and promote self-monitoring by AMD patients, the Programme  contains a series of initiatives:

- Educational and training materials informing patients about the Programme.
- Materials for relatives and/or carers to provide information to patients' environments so they may understand how low vision is affecting the sufferer.
- Text message reminders: patients will receive weekly text messages in order to keep up their commitment and motivation.
- A monitoring book: in which patients may record self-monitoring of their sight using the Amsler grid and monitor their visits to the ophthalmologist.
- Consultation websites: patients may access a personal page at www.damasvision.com in which they will receive information on their progress and schedule as well as obtain materials.

AMD is the principal cause of legal blindness in the over-50s in developed countries. There are 707,857 AMD sufferers in Spain.