Higher level students are nearsighted

A recent survey by the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences shows that nearly 25% of students are nearsighted. Approximately 15% of primary school students (grades 4 and 5) must wear glasses, the higher the level, the higher the rate.

The study was conducted in 3 provinces and cities, namely Da Nang, Ha Tinh and Hai Phong, with the participation of more than 2,000 students at 3 levels: primary, secondary and high school. The purpose is to assess the awareness, attitudes and behavior of eye care of students, teachers and parents.

Results released on October 7 show that parents' awareness is relatively high, but they rarely take their children to routine eye exams. More than 60% of the respondents said that they had an eye exam, but only more than 13% had been examined within the past 3-6 months.

Most children have regular eye exams at school and are checked by school health officials (who are part-time teachers), but have not been examined by an ophthalmologist. There are no facilities for early detection of eye diseases in students. Therefore, the examination results are still limited.

Most of them still do not know the causes of eye disease and how to prevent disease. In particular, many high school students need to wear glasses but do not use them, especially boys, for the reason " entangled " and " not beautiful ".

In addition, the teachers also did not learn how to care and protect the eyes of the students so they did not know how to instruct students with eye diseases to any extent.

Proper eye care, eye exams at specialist hospitals periodically contribute to reducing refractive errors.(Photo: Thien Chuong)

Mr. Nguyen Duc Minh, representative of Vietnam Education Science Institute, said: " It is worrisome that the rate of children with refractive errors on their eyes, especially myopia is increasing. also have a tendency to rejuvenate " .

Refractive errors in the eyes include nearness, disorder, presbyopia, in which myopia is common in schools. Of the causes of eye disease, nearly one third are due to genetic factors. In addition, mainly children watch TV, play games and use the Internet too much or because the classroom is lack of light, sitting posture is not correct .

Dr. Tran Thi Phuong Thu, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, said that there were about 410,000 children with refractive errors nationwide. Ho Chi Minh City alone has about 30-60% of students with refractive errors and this is also the biggest cause of vision loss in students.

One of the reasons leading to refractive errors in students, according to Ms. Thu, is partly due to their awareness of not good eye protection. On the other hand, parents are not really interested in seeing their eyes. Finally, the status of stores selling glasses, many hospitals have ophthalmology, but there is no refractive service and officially trained glazing technicians.

" Many children do not have birth defects, when they go to primary school, their eyes are very good, but when they go to grade 3 because they read the wrong books, they often play games . the eyes start to be refracted, " Thu said.

Multiplying Eye Care Day 10/10 and World Vision Day this year, eye hospitals in 5 provinces including: HCMC, Hanoi, Quang Binh, Binh Phuoc and An Giang will examine, consult, communicate and Free medicine for people.

In HCMC, the Eye Hospital will examine 2,000 people on the morning of October 10 at the Cultural House in District 11. In Hanoi on October 17, the examination will be done at Tay Ho Sports Center.On October 21, this activity took place in the Competition Center and the general swimming pool sport service of Quang Binh province.October 25, Binh Phuoc Youth Activity Center and October 28 at the Retirement Club of An Giang Province.