Johnson & Johnson Vision Launches Asia-Pacific Training Center at Shaanxi Eye Hospital

Xi'an, ShaanxiAugust 6, 2022PR Newswire -- Today, the Johnson & Johnson Vision Asia-Pacific Training Center was officially launched at the Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital. This marks another Asia-Pacific training center established in China after the Johnson & Johnson Vision Asia-Pacific Training Center was set up at the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University (Shanghai五官科医院). It is also the first training base for refractive cataract surgery in western China, aimed at ophthalmologists across the Asia-Pacific region. At the launch ceremony, heavyweight guests such as Li Xingzhou, President of Xi'an People's Hospital; Ye Lianhong, Party Secretary; Wang Man, Director of the Research Department; Hu Bin, Director of the Teaching Department; Yan Hong, President of Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital; and Wang Liping, Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Vision Greater China, Australia, and New Zealand, attended. They engaged in in-depth discussions on clinical diagnosis and treatment performance of refractive cataracts and national cataract surgery planning, further promoting cutting-edge international concepts and clinical practices in cataract diagnosis and treatment, and driving high-quality development of ophthalmic service capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness globally, and surgery is currently the only effective treatment for cataracts. Data shows that in China, without considering overlapping cases, the number of patients with just myopia, dry eye syndrome, and cataracts exceeds 1 billion. However, there are only 47,000 ophthalmologists in China, with less than 2 ophthalmologists per 50,000 people, and only less than half of these doctors are capable of independently performing cataract surgeries. The total amount of high-quality ophthalmic medical resources in China is relatively insufficient, and the development of professional ophthalmology teams faces challenges. Clearly, it is urgent to expand high-quality ophthalmic medical resources, strengthen the training of ophthalmology talent, and improve the construction of professional ophthalmology service levels.

As the location of Johnson & Johnson Vision Asia-Pacific Training Center, Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital is the largest comprehensive ophthalmology hospital in Northwest China, integrating medical treatment, scientific research, teaching, and rehabilitation. The hospital established a separate Cataract Intraocular Lens Center as early as the 1990s, actively introducing advanced ophthalmic examination and surgical equipment from around the world. It has now developed into an ophthalmology center that integrates medical treatment, teaching, scientific research, blindness prevention, and prophylaxis. In terms of refractive cataract diagnosis and treatment, the clinical diagnostic level of Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital has aligned with international standards, serving as an important demonstration unit for the standardized cataract training base and refractive cataract surgery training base in Northwest China.

After the establishment of the training center, Johnson & Johnson Vision and Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital will help young ophthalmologists in the Asia-Pacific region learn the most cutting-edge international treatment concepts through comprehensive course arrangements. They will enrich and enhance their clinical experience and practice in refractive cataract surgery and intraocular lens surgery, including preoperative diagnosis, intraocular lens calculation, intraocular lens design, patient selection, education and consultation, as well as how to effectively manage patients' needs in a busy practice, among others. The establishment of this center will not only promote the internationalization of ophthalmologists in Shaanxi and even Northwest China, but also drive significant progress in cataract surgery and cataract surgeon training in the entire Northwest region, substantially improving the accessibility and service quality of ophthalmic care in China.

At the launch ceremony, Li Xingzhou, President of Xi'an People's Hospital, stated: "As a national key clinical specialty construction unit, Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital ranked first in the Northwest Regional Specialty Reputation Rankings in the '2019 China Hospital Specialty Reputation and Comprehensive Specialty Rankings' published by the Fudan University Hospital Management Institute. This will undoubtedly inject new development opportunities and vitality into Northwest ophthalmology and provide protection for the eye health of the general public."

"In recent years, Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital has done a great deal of work in the field of cataract surgeon training, consistently attempting to carry out cataract-related surgical procedure training through various forms, which has been highly recognized by authoritative organizations such as the Chinese Medical Association, the Chinese Doctor Association, and the Cataract Group." Yan Hong, the president of Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital, stated: "The official launch of the Johnson & Johnson Vision Asia-Pacific Training Center at Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital will provide precious opportunities for the hospital and many young ophthalmologists to exchange and learn from top international ophthalmology experts. In the future, besides continuing to benefit a large number of cataract patients with mature and advanced ophthalmic medical technology, the hospital will also place greater emphasis on the training of refractive cataract surgery, empowering young ophthalmologists and contributing to talent incubation and construction in the field of ophthalmology."

"Delighted to witness the official launch of the Johnson & Johnson Vision Asia-Pacific Training Center at Shaanxi Provincial Eye Hospital, I hope this training center can effectively integrate regional characteristics, hospital strengths, and the advanced scientific technologies and training philosophies of Johnson & Johnson Vision, promoting the standardized development of cataract and refractive surgery and driving long-term growth and progress in the ophthalmology field," said Wang Liping, Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Vision for Greater China, Australia, and New Zealand. "As one of the global leaders in eye health, Johnson & Johnson Vision is actively positioning itself to respond to China's '14th Five-Year Plan' for eye health by accelerating the implementation of internationally leading technologies, innovative products, and cultivating professional talent in ophthalmology. The official launch of this training center will further standardize clinical ophthalmic procedures, enhance the service capabilities and standards of ophthalmic professionals, benefiting more patients."

As a leader in the healthcare industry, Johnson & Johnson has always been committed to helping people see more clearly, communicate more effectively, and live better lives, actively promoting the high-quality development of China's eye health industry. As the eye health business under Johnson & Johnson, Johnson & Johnson Vision will not only accelerate the domestic transformation of advanced global ophthalmic technologies and products but also focus more on foundational education and training courses in the field of ophthalmic medicine. It aims to promote the development and incubation of professional talent in ophthalmology, contributing to the realization of the grand goal of a Healthy China.