Prima Saigon screened 1200 junior high school students for refractive errors and lazy eyes.
Ho Chi Minh City, Jan 12th, 2024 –Prima Saigon Medical Center, a member of Hoan My Medical Group and an Associate member of the World Association of Eye Hospitals (WAEH), organized the program “Healthy Eyes – Bright Future,” consulting and examining eye diseases for 1200 students of Le Loi Secondary School for refractive errors and lazy eyes. This event educated students to raise awareness about preventing, improving eye diseases and protecting healthy vision.
The program “Healthy Eyes – Bright Future”
School refractive errors are a current concern among school-age students eye health problems. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Vietnam in 2022, about 15-40% of people have myopia nationwide. Among them, the primary target group is children aged 6-15. In particular, schools in metropolitan cities, the contribution of children with nearsightedness accounts for more than 80% of the class population. According to eye specialists of Prima Saigon, the heavy use of electronic devices, study pressure, and inadequate rest, causing the eyes to adjust at short range for long periods, are the leading causes of visual impairment. This situation affects the quality of life and students’ learning and communicating process.
The rate of school myopia is increasing. To prevent and limit this condition, in addition to activities to raise awareness about eye health, instructions on how to care for and protect eyesight, thereby diagnosing refractive errors and advising on appropriate treatment for students, are extremely important and urgent.
Mr. Tran Quoc Bao – CEO of Prima Saigon Medical Center, said: “Health and education are a solid foundation and a premise for children’s development during adulthood. Therefore, Prima Saigon Medical Center combined with Le Loi Secondary School to bring an eye health care program for students. This is a meaningful and practical activity for students and parents. This medical examination program will help children detect early signs and causes of myopia and eye abnormalities. From there, families and schools can coordinate and come up with timely prevention and treatment methods for their children”.
At the program, Le Loi Secondary School students had their refraction measured. They had a comprehensive eye consultation by a team of qualified doctors and optometrists from Prima Saigon Medical Center. During the examination, doctors and opticians advise on nutrition and suitable prescribed glasses and provide additional helpful eye care knowledge, helping children realize the importance of eye care. Early detection and correction of refractive errors can control the progression of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and amblyopia (lazy eyes).
Dr. Vo Thi Thu Thao – Chief Medical Officer of Prima Saigon Medical Center, shared: “For children with nearsightedness, the degree of nearsightedness will gradually increase with age; as the child grows up, the degree of eyesight will increase accordingly. Experts recommend that children have regular eye exams within 3-6 months. However, many young people do not have regular eye exams. Therefore, this school’s reactive diseases examination and consultation activity will allow Le Loi Secondary School students to detect eye diseases early and have timely treatment regimens. Through the program, the student will also know the important role of caring for and preserving their eyes. From there, adjust the living, working, and resting regime appropriately to protect bright, healthy eyes and improve children’s learning efficiency and quality of life”.
The “Healthy Eyes – Bright Future” event is an annual medical examination and treatment activity, opening a series of Prima Saigon Medical Center cooperative events with Secondary and High Schools in Ho Chi Minh City. The program offers students the opportunity to have eye examinations and vision measurements with a professional medical team specializing in ophthalmology to help students facilitate their studies and daily activities, achieving more success in the future.
Prima Saigon Medical Center