02. Why Vietnam needs Optometry?

In Vietnam, a report of preventable blindness (RAAB) in 2017 shows that 11.4% people above 50 years old has visual reduction, and 10% of visual reduction is caused by uncorrected presbyopia.  This report also stated that 57% people above 50, around 105 million people do not have reading glasses. Around 21.4% students have uncorrected refractive error and 67% students have inappropriate refractive error correction.

Developing Optometry is crucial for eye care system in Vietnam to meet the need of eye care now and in the future, especially in order to eliminate preventable blindness caused by refractive error. Up to this moment, ophthalmologists with the support from technicians and nurses have been trying to resolve all the need for refractive care in Vietnam. However, the need for comprehensive eye examination shows that current workforces cannot resolve entirely the increased number of people that need treatment for refractive error and primary eye care.