Up to 25%-30% of students in Vietnam suffer from refraction errors, the Vietnam News Agency said on May 26, citing a survey by ophthalmologists. The ratio is higher at 30%-60% in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Ophthalmologists said that almost all Vietnamese students with the errors did not have them detected in time. They noted that people who use glasses, but do not change their lenses to match the development of their eyesight, are also affected. They warned that if eye refraction defects are not timely treated, they will lead to squint, retina detachment and even blindness. In order to improve eyesight, it is necessary to improve lighting in classrooms and reduce the amount of time spent watching TV and playing computer games, while increasing outdoor activities and eating food rich in Vitamins A and E. Helen Keller International (HKI), a nonprofit organization that prevents blindness and reduces malnutrition, with initiatives in food fortification, vitamin A supplementation and more, said around 3 million Vietnamese students aged 6-15 suffer from eye refraction defects, two-third of them are short-sighted (Vietnamplus May 26)
