More than 30% of university students have refractive errors.

At the recent VISI 2025 Scientific and Technical Conference, Dr. Tran Thi Khanh Linh from Saigon Da Lat Eye Hospital stated that severe myopia increases the risk of serious eye problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the rate of severe myopia is increasing rapidly and is projected to affect approximately 10% of the global population by 2050.

According to Dr. Tran Thi Khanh Linh, refractive errors are a common cause of vision impairment. The number of people worldwide with refractive errors is estimated to be between 1 and 2 billion. Myopia (nearsightedness) is the most common refractive error, affecting one-quarter of the world's population. According to data from the Brien Holden Vision Institute (Australia), approximately 23% of the population suffered from myopia in 2015, and this is predicted to increase to around 50% by 2050.

"In Vietnam, according to surveys at several universities, the rate of refractive errors among students is 30%, with myopia accounting for 28%. Currently, there are many methods to treat myopia such as wearing eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery," Dr. Tran Thi Khanh Linh informed.

Ms. Khanh Linh stated that the most common method for treating nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism today is laser refractive surgery. This involves creating a corneal flap (LASIK), a popular and safe method for correcting myopia. However, patients with severe myopia or thin corneas face several limitations such as corneal dryness, corneal flap displacement, and recurrence of myopia after surgery.

Dr. Tran Thi Khanh Linh

In addition, Phakic ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens)/IPCL (Implantable Phakic Contact Lens) surgery is also an advanced technique in treating refractive errors. This method has been around since 1997 and has been performed in over 400,000 cases worldwide. A technician will implant a special intraocular lens behind the iris, just in front of the eye's natural lens, helping to preserve corneal tissue, maintain natural accommodation, suitable for thin corneas, and reduce dry eyes.

The results of a study of 15 patients (30 eyes) at Saigon Da Lat Eye Hospital showed that the Phakic surgical method has the advantage of being able to treat very high cases of myopia, fairly high cases of astigmatism, and cases of thin corneas that cannot be treated by other methods. It also preserves the accommodative ability of the lens and has few complications. Furthermore, this method is quite safe and achieves long-lasting results.

The VISI 2025 Annual Scientific and Technical Conference, themed “ Every Gaze – A Belief,” is an important academic forum for updating on modern ophthalmology advances; sharing practical clinical experiences; and promoting research, innovation, and professional collaboration within the Vietnamese ophthalmology community.

THANH SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hon-30-sinh-vien-o-cac-truong-dai-hoc-mac-tat-khuc-xa-post828771.html