FLORENCE, Italy — From October 9 to 11, senior researcher Aida Giloyan (MPH ’07) from the Garo Meghrigian Institute for Preventive Ophthalmology (GMIPO) of the Zvart Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development (CHSR) at the American University of Armenia (AUA) was competitively selected to participate in and present at the 28th European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER) Congress in Florence, Italy. EVER is the leading ophthalmological research association in Europe, covering all areas of ophthalmology and the visual sciences. One of the Association’s main activities involves the organization of a high-quality research meeting every year. EVER aims to encourage different aspects of research and the dissemination of knowledge concerning the eye and vision through publications, the exchange of information, and meetings.
During the Congress, Giloyan delivered a poster presentation on “Determinants of disability among people with diabetes in Kotayk province of Armenia.” Her study found that being retired, having higher body mass index, taking insulin treatment, the presence of multiple non-communicable diseases, color blindness, depression, and severe visual impairment or blindness were positively associated with disability, while higher education, physical activity, and better diabetes self-management were negatively associated with disability. This study highlights the significant burden of disability among people with diabetes, while socio-demographic, health, and behavioral factors contribute to its severity. Strategies aimed at enhancing visual acuity and promoting effective self-management of diabetes and non-communicable diseases might reduce disability in this population.
The abstract will be published on the EVER Congress website and on the Acta Ophthalmologica online journal in January 2026.
The AUA Turpanjian College of Health Sciences works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of health professionals to be leaders in public health, nursing, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.
