Every year in June, the global medical community marks International Men’s Health Week, the purpose of which is to draw attention to issues of preserving men’s health, disease prevention, and increasing awareness of the need for regular medical  check-ups.

According to international studies, men are significantly less likely to seek preventive medical care and more often postpone a visit to a doctor until pronounced symptoms of disease appear. At the same time, early diagnosis is one of the key factors in successful treatment and maintaining a high quality of life.

The prevention of ophthalmic diseases is of particular importance, since many conditions affecting the eye may be asymptomatic in their early stages or present with only minimal clinical symptoms.

One of the most common diseases is glaucoma, a chronic progressive optic neuropathy that remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. The danger of glaucoma lies in the fact that a patient may not notice changes in vision for a long time, while the pathological process continues to progress.

Retinal vascular diseases also constitute an important medical and social problem, often associated with arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and other systemic disorders. Changes in the fundus vessels are frequently among the first manifestations of systemic pathology and may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular complications.

After the age of 50, the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) increases — a chronic degenerative disease of the central area of the retina, which is one of the main causes of central vision loss among older individuals. Timely detection of AMD and modern treatment methods make it possible to significantly slow the progression of the disease and preserve functional vision.

Specialists of the SI “The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine” emphasise that regular preventive ophthalmic examinations are an important component of preserving the health of the organ of vision. Particular attention should be paid to men over the age of 40, as well as patients with arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, a family history of glaucoma, and other risk factors.

A comprehensive ophthalmic examination, which includes visual acuity assessment, intraocular pressure measurement, evaluation of the retina and optic nerve, makes it possible to detect pathological changes at early stages and initiate treatment promptly.

International Men’s Health Week is another reminder that prevention, early diagnosis, and a responsible attitude toward one’s health are important factors in active longevity, preservation of working capacity, and a high quality of life.