Caring for bright eyes

Hai Phong Eye Hospital conducts vision screening for children at Dong Hai Secondary School, Hai An Ward.

Myopia in school is becoming a worrying problem in Hai Phong, directly affecting the learning and health of students. Protecting children's eyes requires close coordination between parents, schools, and the health sector, from training living habits to education and scientific intervention.

Growing anxiety

On a weekend morning, at the eye examination area of Hai Phong Children's Hospital, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, from Le Chan ward, held her 4-year-old son in her arms, her face full of worry. "For the past few months, he has been squinting his eyes when watching TV, and sitting close to his notebook when learning to draw. I thought he was just being naughty, but the doctor said he was mildly nearsighted. I am really worried because he is only in kindergarten," Ms. Huong shared.

Ms. Huong's story is no longer uncommon. In recent years, school myopia has become a worrying issue. According to data from the Hai Phong Department of Health , the rate of students with refractive errors, especially myopia, has increased steadily over the years. If in 2018, the rate of myopia in primary school was about 22%, by 2024 this number had exceeded 35%, and in middle and high school it was up to more than 45%.

At Tran Van On Primary School, Hong Bang Ward, during the regular health check-up at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, more than 1/3 of the students were found to have vision problems. At Le Hong Phong Primary School, Gia Vien Ward, the number of children who have to wear glasses for nearsightedness and amblyopia is also high. Ms. Duong Thu Trang, a teacher at the school, shared that many children in grades 2 and 3 already have to wear glasses. Some children, after just one summer vacation or online learning session, have their nearsightedness increase by half a diopter.

In fact, in the past, children in suburban areas were less affected by learning conditions and outdoor living habits. But now, when smartphones and the Internet have become popular, the number of children with refractive errors has also increased. In response to this situation, the Department of Health in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training of Hai Phong has implemented many programs to prevent, combat and detect early refractive errors in schools.

Join hands to prevent

In many schools such as Tran Quoc Toan Primary School (Hong Bang Ward), Dang Hai Secondary School, Dong Hai (Hai An Ward) and many kindergartens in the area, the program "Bright Eyes for School" has become an annual activity. In extracurricular classes, students participate in quizzes about eye care, learn how to keep the right distance between their eyes and books, and receive free screening. Teacher Nguyen Thi Thao, homeroom teacher of class 5A at Dang Hai Primary School, shared that after the school implemented periodic eye examinations, the number of students wearing glasses who were detected early increased significantly. Students are also more aware of protecting their eyes, not bending too close to their notebooks, not reading in the dark.

Hai Phong Eye Hospital conducts vision screening for children at An Dong 2 Kindergarten, An Duong Ward.

Preventing myopia in school cannot rely solely on the school. The important factor lies in the close coordination between family and society. Many parents, due to their busy schedules, let their children watch phones and TV for long periods of time to “keep their children well-behaved”. This unintentionally overloads the child’s eyes and can easily lead to myopia.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Head of the Department of Dentistry and Ophthalmology, Hai Phong Children's Hospital, recommends that parents should let their children rest their eyes after every 20 minutes of close-up work and encourage them to participate in outdoor activities for at least 2 hours a day. At schools, homeroom teachers need to recognize early signs of vision loss in students to promptly notify parents. Lighting in the classroom must meet standards, and desks and chairs must be suitable for the height of the students.

In addition, the school schedule should include outdoor lessons and extracurricular activities to help students exercise more. The eyes are the windows to the soul. If properly cared for from an early age, it will help children have healthy eyes.

THU HANG

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/cham-lo-nhung-doi-mat-sang-526503.html