The rate of children with refractive errors is increasing.

(Chinhphu.vn) - The rate of children with refractive errors is increasing. This rate in big cities is often higher than in rural areas. If refractive errors are not detected and treated properly, children may suffer from amblyopia and long-term vision loss.

MSc. Dr. Dinh Thi Phuong Thuy, Executive Director of Dong Do Hospital, spoke at the conference - Photo: VGP/HM

With more than 20 years of experience in ophthalmology, Dr. Dinh Thi Phuong Thuy, Executive Director of Dong Do Hospital, shared that children can encounter eye problems, from mild diseases such as refractive errors (including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism) to more serious diseases such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), or congenital glaucoma.

Many children suffer from conjunctivitis (pink eye), congenital cataracts or nystagmus - a condition in which the eyes move uncontrollably, causing serious damage to vision if not treated promptly.

According to 2024 statistics from the Vietnam Ophthalmology Council, our country has 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. This rate is higher in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where more than 50% of children are affected by refractive errors due to improper study habits and excessive and prolonged use of electronic devices.

MSc. Dr. Dinh Thi Phuong Thuy affirmed that if children are not detected and treated properly for refractive errors, it can lead to amblyopia. Amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye", accounts for 1-5% of children under 6 years old, equivalent to 100,000 to 500,000 children, and can cause long-term vision loss.

In addition, about 2-4% of children, equivalent to 200,000 to 400,000 children Strabismus is a sign of a condition that, if not treated properly, can lead to amblyopia or other serious vision problems.

In addition, nystagmus, although rare, is a serious condition that affects a child's ability to see. It is often associated with congenital neurological or visual problems.

Faced with the above situation, the Department of Ophthalmology - Refractive Ophthalmology of Hanoi Medical University in collaboration with Dong Do Hospital organized a scientific seminar on "Children's eye care from theory to practice" on August 26, aiming to create a valuable scientific forum, contributing to improving the quality of children's eye care in Vietnam.

This highly professional event brings together leading domestic and international experts, updates the latest advances in pediatric eye care and enhances the practical capacity of the medical team.

Delegates at the conference also analyzed effective treatments for strabismus without surgical intervention; evaluated the causes and treatment methods for nystagmus in children...

The workshop is also an opportunity for the medical team to update their professional knowledge and connect and learn from international experts, promoting the development of the domestic ophthalmology industry, while creating a premise for the application of advanced techniques into practice in our country.

For parents, to protect children's eyes from refractive errors, medical experts recommend that children should have regular eye exams, limit the time spent using electronic devices, ensure appropriate lighting when studying, maintain a suitable reading distance, let children participate in outdoor activities, have a balanced diet rich in vitamin A and practice proper eye hygiene.

Hien Minh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/ty-le-tre-mac-cac-tat-khuc-xa-ngay-cang-tang-102250826170349.htm