Measures to control eye diseases causing blindness discussed

HCM City (VNA) - More than 500 eye surgeons and technicians join their foreign colleagues in discussing measures to control eye diseases that cause blindness in the country at a national conference held in Ho Chi Minh City on Sept. 12.

The participants reported their eyesight recovery work in a number of
northern and central provinces as well as measures to eradicate trachoma by
2010 and promote cataract surgery, the first cause of blindness in the
country.

They also exchanged view on how to deal with popular eye diseases like
glaucoma, diabetic and premature baby's retina.

Vice President of the Vietnam Ophthalmology Association and Director of the
HCM City Eye Hospital Tran Thi Phuong Thu told the conference that the blind
are making up around 3.16 percent of the Vietnamese population. Cataract,
glaucoma and eye refraction are the main causes of blindness in the country.

In response to this year's "World Sight Day", eye examinations will be
provided free of charge to poor people while all sources will be mobilised
for blindness prevention work.-Enditem