SCHOOL EYE HEALTH PROGRAM
As many as 90 per cent of the 450 million visually impaired children worldwide live in developing countries. Eye problems are not seen as a life-threatening disease and, therefore, receive insufficient attention. Moreover, the available eye care is out of reach for many people (the nearest eyewear store is usually miles away). For children in these developing countries, visual impairment has far-reaching consequences. The fact that they cannot see the blackboard clearly logically impacts educational performance. Good vision is crucial for a child to participate optimally in education, develop and have a chance at an independent future.
With the School Eye Health Program in Laos, the Eye Care Foundation provides elementary school children with the eye care they deserve. They do this in collaboration with local partners and national health services. Local healthcare providers perform eye checks in elementary schools. Thanks to these eye checks, children receive diagnoses they may never have found out about without them. The next step is to give the children who need it appropriate glasses or refer them to medical treatment. In this way, with the School Eye Health Program, we prevent visually impaired children from falling behind early and increase their chances of living independently and independently.