Building a comprehensive eye care ecosystem for children

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

The healthcare sector and ophthalmic medical facilities are striving to build a comprehensive and modern ophthalmic ecosystem, from community screening, early diagnosis, timely treatment to long-term companionship while enhancing the application of technology, expanding the remote consultation network and mobilizing the cooperation of society so that no child with eye diseases is left behind just because of circumstances.

The above information was given at the Scientific Conference with the theme "Children's Eye Care - From Theory to Practice," organized by the Department of Ophthalmology - Refractive Ophthalmology (Hanoi Medical University) in collaboration with Dong Do Hospital on August 26 in Hanoi.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Ophthalmology Council in 2024, in Vietnam, there are 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 use of electronic devices.

If not detected and treated properly, it can lead to amblyopia. Amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye," affects 1-5% of children under 6 years old, equivalent to 100,000 to 500,000 children. If not detected and treated promptly, it can cause long-term vision loss.

Dr. Timothy Robert Fricke shares his experiences in treating strabismus in children. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

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

The workshop equips medical staff with techniques in diagnosing and treating eye diseases in children according to international standards, to update the latest advances in the field of pediatric eye care and to improve the quality of visual health care in Vietnam.

The workshop also featured in-depth, high-quality reports from two leading experts in the world, Professor Bruce D. Moore - Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Children's Vision Alliance (USA), Honorary Professor at Hanoi Medical University with a topic on Pediatric Eye Examination; Dr. Timothy Robert Fricke - Director of Research and Education, National Institute of Vision Research, Australian College of Optometry, Honorary Professor at Hanoi Medical University with a presentation on diagnosis and treatment of strabismus in children./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/xay-dung-he-sinh-thai-nhan-khoa-cham-soc-mat-toan-dien-cho-tre-em-post1058067.vnp