HKU and Orbis Launch Free Eye Checks for 1,000 Children
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The University of Hong Kong School of Medicine has joined forces with international eye care charity Orbis to launch a comprehensive eye health initiative offering free examinations to 1,000 children and 1,000 adults aged 50 or above who have myopia. The programme, unveiled on Tuesday, seeks to address what officials describe as a mounting public health challenge, with research indicating that nearly 40% of children aged 5 to 12 who were previously examined had myopia, while 44.5% of adults over 50 in a separate screening were found to have the condition.
Key Points
- The eye examination programme is being rolled out in phases, with the first phase accepting applications from children aged 5 to 12 years
- Free screenings for 1,000 adults aged 50 or above with myopia will be offered in a subsequent second phase
- Research data shows that among 501 children aged 5 to 12 previously examined, nearly 40% were diagnosed with myopia
- A glaucoma community screening involving 4,217 adults aged 50 or above found 44.5% had myopia, with 6.7% classified as high myopia
- HKU Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Medical Faculty Liu Zexing described myopia as an escalating public health burden affecting individuals and society
Why It Matters
The initiative comes amid growing concerns about myopia prevalence in Hong Kong, particularly among young people who spend significant time on close-up screen work. Beyond screening, the programme includes a three-year clinical trial called the "2027 Children's Myopia Control Study" that will evaluate three intervention strategies—including 0.05% atropine eye drops, myopic defocus spectacles, and combined therapy—to help families select optimal myopia management approaches for their children .
The initiative comes amid growing concerns about myopia prevalence in Hong Kong, particularly among young people who spend significant time on close-up screen work. Beyond screening, the programme includes a three-year clinical trial called the "2027 Children's Myopia Control Study" that will evaluate three intervention strategies—including 0.05% atropine eye drops, myopic defocus spectacles, and combined therapy—to help families select optimal myopia management approaches for their children .