Essilor and Aier, the largest eye hospital group in China, have launched a significant new program to help improve the sight of underprivileged children in need of vision correction.
Aier and Essilor, through its charitable fund in China, have each committed approximately €150,000 per year for the country’s first visual health program to be jointly initiated by two private-sector companies in China. The myopia rate among Chinese children is very high, with around 25% of primary school children in China suffering from Uncorrected Refractive Error (URE). However, many children from rural areas or low-income families do not have easy access to basic vision care services, even though poor vision has been proven to have a negative impact on school performance.
Three pilot projects will be implemented in the first year to bring better sight to 4,000 migrant children in Shanghai
The Eye Do program is a philanthropic partnership that will fund and drive projects including vision screening, eye exams and provision of spectacles for children who need vision correction, as well as supporting advocacy to drive better understanding of the importance of good vision.
Three pilot projects will be implemented in the first year to bring better sight to 4,000 migrant children in Shanghai, the majority of whom suffer from a disadvantaged economic status, a lack of medical insurance and a lack of knowledge regarding the importance of eye care.
At the pre-launch event held in April, more than 2,500 migrant primary school children were screened for vision problems and over 100 of their teachers received training on basic vision care. Over one third of the children screened were identified as needing eye exams and will receive a pair of eyeglasses where necessary.