Reasons for the high rate of children with refractive errors

Vietnamese children are facing many vision problems such as amblyopia, strabismus, congenital glaucoma..., especially the rapid increase in refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism).

Check and evaluate refractive errors in children.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Ophthalmological Association, in 2024, in Vietnam, there will be about 5 million children (accounting for 30-40% of school-age children) with refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism); of which, myopia accounts for the majority. Particularly in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of children with refractive errors can be up to more than 50%.

This high rate is believed to be due to improper study habits and excessive use of electronic devices. If not detected and treated properly, it can lead to amblyopia.

In 2024, in Vietnam, there will be about 5 million children (accounting for 30-40% of school-age children) with refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism); of which, myopia accounts for the majority.

In addition, about 2-4% of children (equivalent to 200,000-400,000 children) have symptoms of strabismus and if not treated properly can lead to amblyopia or other serious visual problems.

Notably, a survey by the Central Eye Hospital at a number of primary and secondary schools showed that the rate of children with refractive errors is increasing significantly.

In Hanoi, there are classes where about 51% of children have refractive errors, of which myopia accounts for 37.5%, hyperopia 8.2% and astigmatism 5.3%. In Ho Chi Minh City, there are classes where the rate of refractive errors is up to 75.6%, with myopia alone accounting for 52.7%... Refractive errors can occur at any age, but are most common in students, office workers and groups exposed to electronic devices too much and for too long.

The World Health Organization has also predicted that by 2050, half of the world's population will be at risk of myopia. In order to contribute to improving the quality of pediatric eye care in Vietnam, the Department of Ophthalmology and Refractive Ophthalmology, Hanoi Medical University, in collaboration with Dong Do Eye Hospital, organized a scientific seminar on "Children's eye care from theory to practice" with the participation of leading domestic and international experts, to update the latest advances in the field of pediatric eye care and improve the practical capacity of the medical team.

The workshop was attended by two world-leading experts in the field of ophthalmology, including: Professor Bruce D. Moore (Co-Chairman of the Massachusetts-USA Children's Vision Alliance and Honorary Professor of Hanoi Medical University); Dr. Timothy Robert Fricke (Director of Research and Education, National Vision Research Institute - Australia, Honorary Professor of Hanoi Medical University). The workshop focused on updating techniques in diagnosing and treating eye diseases in children according to international standards, aiming to improve the quality of vision health care in Vietnam.

The in-depth topics discussed include techniques in diagnosing and treating eye diseases in children; guidelines for prescribing standard glasses for children (methods for prescribing glasses in accordance with international standards, ensuring effective vision correction for children); non-surgical strabismus (analysis of effective treatments without surgery)...

Master Dinh Thi Phuong Thuy, Executive Director of Dong Do Hospital, shared that children can encounter many eye problems, from mild diseases such as refractive errors to more serious diseases such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), or congenital glaucoma. In addition, many children suffer from conjunctivitis (pink eye), congenital cataracts or nystagmus. This is a condition in which the eyes move uncontrollably, causing serious damage to vision if not treated promptly...

Notably, if children are not detected and treated properly for refractive errors, it can lead to amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye”, which currently accounts for 1-5% of children under 6 years old, and can cause long-term vision loss. Therefore, parents should proactively take their children for regular eye exams and follow the treatment regimen of experts to preserve the light and nurture their children's dreams. Professor Bruce D. Moore noted that an ideal eye examination process is not only based on theoretical knowledge but also needs to combine basic science, clinical and practical.

The examination process needs to be quick and continuous to observe the child's natural behavior, while using the "eyes and brain of the examiner" as the most important tool instead of relying solely on machines.

He also emphasized three principles when correcting refractive errors in children, including improving vision, binocular vision and visual function, to create a clear converging image on both retinas. Correcting glasses must be done carefully depending on each type of refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism or refractive error, avoiding overuse or incorrect correction that affects children's vision. The new school year is about to begin, this is an opportunity for parents to have specific solutions to control and prevent the increase of eye diseases in general and refractive errors in particular.

QUANG MINH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nguyen-nhan-ty-le-tre-bi-tat-khuc-xa-tang-cao-post905778.html