Restoring eyesight for the elderly.

Currently, Vietnam has approximately 2 million blind people, the majority of whom are elderly. In response to this situation, the "Bright Eyes for the Elderly" program was launched to help restore sight and improve the quality of life for older adults.

Free eye exams for the elderly. Photo: Organizing Committee.

On June 2nd, in Ha Tinh province, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, in coordination with the Ministry of Health , the Ha Tinh Provincial Association of the Elderly, the Thien Tam Foundation, and the Saigon Medical Group, launched the humanitarian program "Bright Eyes for the Elderly" for the period 2025-2028. This is an activity with profound social significance, launched on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Elderly in Vietnam (June 6, 1941 - June 6, 2026), aiming to further affirm the concern of the Party, the State, and the entire society for the care, protection, and promotion of the role of the elderly in the current period.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health , Vietnam currently has approximately 2 million blind people, with about 70% of cases caused by cataracts – a condition that can be effectively treated if detected early and intervened at the right time. Notably, the majority of blindness cases occur among the elderly, directly affecting their quality of life and ability to care for themselves.

Not only in Vietnam, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has also released alarming figures showing that more than 43 million people are blind globally, and approximately 295 million people are experiencing moderate to severe vision impairment. Of these, about 80% are preventable or treatable. These figures further emphasize the urgent need to strengthen community eye care programs, especially in the context of a rapidly aging global population.

The "Bright Eyes for the Elderly" program for the period 2025-2028 sets out many specific goals, including striving to ensure that over 90% of key officials of the Elderly Association at all levels receive training in eye health care skills; over 90% of the elderly receive examinations and screenings for basic eye diseases, along with the provision of medication and gifts. In particular, 100% of the elderly diagnosed with cataracts will receive timely treatment.

Speaking at the program's opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Vice Chairman of the National Committee on the Elderly of Vietnam and Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, emphasized that the "Bright Eyes for the Elderly" program for the period 2025-2028 is not only a practical activity to care for the health and spiritual life of the elderly, but also a concrete action to promote the wisdom, experience, and role of the elderly in the new development phase of the country.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh also called on organizations, businesses, and individuals both domestically and internationally to continue to support and provide resources so that the program can be implemented effectively, bringing practical benefits and helping the elderly move towards a life of "living happily, healthily, and contentedly," and continue to make positive contributions to society.

At the event, approximately 200 elderly people received free eye examinations and consultations. Notably, 50 cases will receive free cataract surgery.

It is known that from 2019 to the present, the Thien Tam Foundation, in coordination with specialized eye hospitals, has organized free cataract screening and surgery for the elderly, the poor, and those in difficult circumstances. By the end of 2025, the program had successfully supported 25,000 surgeries. In 2026, the Foundation continues to commit 20 billion VND to the "Bright Eyes for the Elderly" program nationwide, contributing to bringing light and improving the quality of life for disadvantaged people.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/hoi-sinh-thi-luc-cho-nguoi-cao-tuoi-1047352.html