School Myopia Rate Reaches an Alarming 80% at International Healthcare Partnership Signing Ceremony

Many parents today still have an incomplete understanding of myopia, viewing it merely as a common “refractive error,” while the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified myopia as a chronic condition.

Distinguished Physician, PhD, MD Vũ Thị Thanh – Director of Ánh Sáng International Eye Hospital and former Director of Hanoi Eye Hospital – has highlighted concerning findings regarding the current state of children’s vision. “The prevalence of refractive errors is increasing. We have examined a large number of cases and found that the rate of refractive errors among lower secondary school students at specialized schools can be as high as 80%. This is a concerning figure and also a warning for parents,” said PhD, MD Vũ Thị Thanh.

Distinguished Physician, PhD, MD Vũ Thị Thanh – Director of Ánh Sáng International Eye Hospital and former Director of Hanoi Eye Hospital.

This significant increase is closely associated with children’s lifestyle habits in the digital age. According to PhD, MD Vũ Thị Thanh, prolonged and continuous use of computers and electronic devices without adequate breaks may accelerate the progression of refractive errors.

A Common Mistake: Underestimating the “Hidden Iceberg” of Myopia

One of the most common mistakes among parents is treating myopia as only a minor inconvenience that can be addressed simply by getting their child a pair of glasses. PhD, MD Vũ Thị Thanh warned against this perception: “At present, the World Health Organization (WHO) no longer considers myopia simply a ‘refractive error’ but classifies it as a chronic condition. It needs to be monitored, examined, and managed as a chronic disease.”

In reality, when myopia progresses to a severe level and patients reach adulthood, the consequences can become serious. People with high myopia face an increased risk of vision-threatening complications such as retinal tears, retinal detachment, cataracts, or glaucoma.

If parents do not change their perception and only address the visible problem with glasses without focusing on controlling myopia progression from an early stage, children may experience significant effects on their quality of life as they grow older.

A Turning Point Through Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Cooperation

To address school-age myopia in particular and improve the overall quality of ophthalmic care, changing public awareness alone is not enough. The healthcare system also needs significant advances in technology and professional expertise.

On August 15, the strategic investment cooperation signing ceremony between Ánh Sáng International Eye System and NSQ Capital, a healthcare investment fund from Singapore, officially marked an important milestone in this effort.

Founded in 2009 from the dedication and vision of Professor, PhD, People’s Physician Tôn Thị Kim Thanh, Ánh Sáng International Eye System has consistently pursued the philosophy of “Lifelong Eye Care.” The partnership with NSQ Capital not only strengthens its financial resources but also aims to comprehensively enhance operational processes and medical examination and treatment technologies.

Professor, PhD, People’s Physician Tôn Thị Kim Thanh – Medical Director of Ánh Sáng International Eye System and President of the Vietnam Ophthalmological Society.

With the support of NSQ Capital, Ánh Sáng International Eye System has identified myopia control under a chronic disease management approach as one of its key priorities. This partnership enables the hospital system to continue making substantial investments in world-leading medical equipment and technologies.

The objective is not limited to treating patients who already have high myopia. More importantly, it focuses on strengthening screening and early intervention to reduce the risk of myopia in children while slowing myopia progression in those who have already developed the condition.

Notably, the partnership also creates opportunities for more patients to gain equitable access to high-quality healthcare services. International-standard ophthalmic technologies will no longer be concentrated only in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City but will also be expanded to patients in other provinces and cities such as Phú Thọ, Vĩnh Phúc, Đà Nẵng, Cần Thơ, and Ninh Bình.

Strategic investment cooperation signing ceremony between Ánh Sáng International Eye System and NSQ Capital, a healthcare investment fund from Singapore.

Speaking about the significance of the partnership with NSQ Capital, PhD, MD Vũ Thị Thanh stated that the cooperation is not simply aimed at expanding the organization’s scale. It also seeks to build a healthcare organization with strong professional expertise, governance, and operational capabilities, while maintaining clinical quality and placing patients at the center of its long-term development.

The signing ceremony not only marks a new chapter in the development of Ánh Sáng International Eye System but also brings renewed hope to millions of patients. In the effort to protect the vision of younger generations from the “myopia epidemic,” the combination of proper awareness within families and advanced, internationally standardized medical solutions provides an important foundation for effective and sustainable myopia control.