ZEISS Launches 'Full Vision Young Elite Science Communication Innovation Program' at CIIE to Advance Presbyopia Education and Empower Young Ophthalmologists

On November 6, 2023, at the 6th China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as "CIIE"), the launch ceremony of "Carl Zeiss Lenses on the Move – Full Vision Youth Elite Science Popularization and Innovation Program" was held. This program aims to enhance the science communication capabilities of young doctors by supporting them in various aspects such as content creation guidance, platform building, and science popularization training, enabling them to leverage their professional expertise. The initiative seeks to provide the public with accurate, scientific, and authoritative eye health knowledge, improve national eye health literacy, and help achieve lifelong clear vision.

Launch Ceremony

Data from the seventh national census in China shows that the total population of the country has reached 1.41 billion, of which 260 million people are aged 60 and above, accounting for 18.7%. The deepening degree of social aging and the increased demand for screen use in the digital age have made eye diseases among middle-aged and elderly people increasingly prominent. According to the "Insight Report on China's Presbyopia Population," almost everyone will experience symptoms of presbyopia at the age of 52, such as difficulty seeing nearby objects, easy fatigue, and the need for strong lighting. Due to limited access to knowledge and misleading misinformation, many middle-aged and elderly individuals have misconceptions about eye conditions like presbyopia and cataracts, preventing them from receiving scientific prevention and intervention guidance.

Professor Lu Yi, Deputy Group Leader of the Chinese Ophthalmological Society's Cataract Artificial Lens Group, Deputy Chief Physician of the Pure Optics Ophthalmology Hospital Group, and Chief Expert of the Cataract and Presbyopia Specialty, stated: "Cataract surgery has entered the refractive era, capable of simultaneously correcting presbyopia, astigmatism, and other issues. For instance, the Carl Zeiss 939 Toric Trifocal Intraocular Lens, which was first launched and exhibited at the CIIE, demonstrates excellent postoperative outcomes. However, it is regrettable that these advanced products are not widely known to patients. Therefore, efforts should be increased to popularize advanced ophthalmic technologies, allowing patients to receive the best treatment when their eye conditions permit."

Zhou Jian, Head of the Cataract Surgery Consumables and Phacoemulsification Equipment Division at Carl Zeiss China, stated: "As an innovative company with 177 years of expertise in optics, Carl Zeiss not only collaborates with ophthalmologists to provide solutions for improving vision and enhancing visual quality for people of all ages but also remains committed to science popularization. We hope that the 'Full Vision Youth Elite Science Popularization Innovation Program,' launched in collaboration with the People's Daily Health Client, will encourage more young and middle-aged doctors to participate in eye health education for the middle-aged and elderly population. Carl Zeiss will also continue to innovate and invest in the development of cataract and presbyopia correction technologies, clinical training, and public welfare education, ensuring the visual health of China’s new generation of middle-aged and elderly population."

Carl Zeiss China Cataract Surgery Consumables and

Zhou Jian, Head of the Phacoemulsification Equipment Division

As early as 2021, Carl Zeiss participated in the public welfare support for the construction of the "Full Vision Presbyopia Health Science Popularization Section" of the People's Daily Health Client. The section collaborates with ophthalmology experts to provide authoritative and comprehensive presbyopia health knowledge to the public. To date, more than 108 ophthalmology experts have joined, producing over 500 pieces of specialized eye health science content, planning more than 40 special health day topics, benefiting over ten million users. This year’s CIIE once again launched the "Full Vision Youth Elite Science Popularization Innovation Program," supporting young doctors in participating in eye health science popularization work such as presbyopia, promoting the updating and improvement of science popularization content, and further expanding the influence of the section.

Professor Guo Haikuo, Committee Member of the Shanghai Ophthalmology Branch, Head of the Cataract Group, and President of Shanghai Heping Eye Hospital, stated: "Science popularization is a bridge connecting professionals and the public, and an important medium for transmitting medical information, disseminating health knowledge, and improving citizens' health literacy. For young doctors, science popularization is also a process of learning and practice, which can greatly benefit their career and work."

In addition, the Physician Newspaper, the only newspaper of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, will also participate in this project as a supporting media, providing content guidance and creative work support. It will help young doctors bring eye health science popularization from diverse perspectives and in innovative formats to better meet the public's needs for eye health knowledge, injecting new momentum into the sustainable development of presbyopia health care.

Guo Tao, Director of the Ophthalmology Department at the Ninth People's Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, stated: "Innovation allows us to see more and newer products, enabling patients to achieve excellent visual quality after surgery. Particularly, the toric trifocal intraocular lens that Carl Zeiss debuted and showcased for the first time satisfies our need for full-range vision and integrated solutions for multiple eye conditions. I believe that innovation and development facilitate the launch of new products, and through appropriate science popularization, it helps patients understand and accept innovative technologies, leading to better treatment outcomes."

Young doctors are the new force in science popularization. The launch of the "Full Vision Youth Elite Science Popularization Innovation Program" will not only support their work but also add vitality to the popularization of presbyopia health. In the future, Carl Zeiss will continue to collaborate with outstanding forces in the medical field, constantly innovate science popularization methods, explore advanced technologies, and create a healthier and brighter future for the public.

As an optical pioneer with 177 years of innovative heritage, Carl Zeiss has remained committed to continuous innovation in localization models during its 66 years in China, actively meeting diverse local needs and contributing to China's high-quality development. With the deepening advancement of the "Healthy China" strategy, Carl Zeiss leverages its cutting-edge technological advantages to enhance national eye health standards from multiple perspectives, including technological innovation, public awareness, doctor training, and industry benchmarks.

In response to the complex eye conditions and high-quality visual demands of the middle-aged and elderly population, Carl ZeissGlobal Debut and Exhibition of the World's First Toric Trifocal Intraocular Lens, is the only intraocular lens in China that can cover high myopia below 6D and high astigmatism above 3.75D, providing an integrated solution for cataracts, presbyopia, myopia (or hyperopia), and astigmatism. The Carl Zeiss trifocal series of intraocular lenses have been successfully implanted in over a million cases worldwide, offering the possibility of excellent vision at all distances for patients with high myopia and high astigmatism.