Essilor Launches Myopia Prevention Education Initiatives at CIIE Under 'See the Future, Create a Vision Era' Theme

SHANGHAI, Nov. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- During the second China International Import Expo, Essilor Group, a global leader in optometry, focused on adolescent eye health and launched its initiative themed "See the Future, Create a Vision Era" at a conference room of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)."Our Eyes"3D Pop-up Book Project, and“Essilor Foundation Shanghai School Myopia Management Training Program” ^[1]In response to the national call, actively disseminate and promote scientific knowledge on eye care for children and adolescents.

Professor Xu Hong, Party Secretary of the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University and President of the Shanghai School of Adolescent Health Management; Professor Zhou Xingtao, Vice President of the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University and Director of the Shanghai Research Center for Optometry and Vision Science; Dr. Liu Fangli from the National Academy of Education Sciences; and Mr. Du Manuo, Board Member of the Essilor Foundation, CEO of Essilor Greater China, and CEO of the Global Instruments Division, attended the event.

According to a World Health Organization research report, China currently has as many as 600 million myopia patients, with the myopia rate among children and adolescents ranking first globally. Student myopia is showing a trend of high prevalence and onset at younger ages.^[2]This has become a major issue concerning the future of the nation and its people.

As an expert in the field of optometry and ophthalmology, Professor Zhou Xingtao, Vice President of the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University and Director of the Shanghai Research Center for Optometry and Ophthalmology, stated, “The prevention and control of myopia among adolescents should adhere to the principle of ‘integrating education with medical care.’ In the face of the severe situation characterized by the rapidly increasing prevalence of myopia among children and adolescents, intensifying efforts in myopia prevention and control is an extremely urgent task at present. All sectors of society should join forces to promote related work through specialized initiatives, implementing them gradually across various districts of Shanghai. Only by forming a concerted effort and adopting a multi-pronged approach can we enhance the scientific rigor and feasibility of these plans.”

In response, during this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), the Essilor Foundation, upholding its mission of “Clear Vision, Better Life,” joined forces with experts and authorities from the education and healthcare sectors to focus on eye health among children and adolescents. The Foundation launched the “Our Eyes” 3D pop-up book project and officially released the “Essilor Foundation Shanghai School Myopia Management Training Program.”

Pioneering Children's Vision Science Education, Launching Eye Care Health3D Pop-up Book Project

Eye Care Health Popularization 3D Pop-up Book Project – "Our Eyes" is a vision health science education reading material funded by the Essilor Foundation and led by the Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences, a think tank under the Ministry of Education. It aims to adopt forms that are popular among children, apply innovative methods to health science popularization education, cultivate children and adolescents' understanding of eye care from an early age, raise societal awareness of vision health through the "small hands holding big hands" approach, and add new highlights to the market for engaging science popularization reading materials.

At the event, Dr. Liu Fangli from the National Institute of Education Sciences stated that myopia prevention and control has been elevated to a national strategy. In light of the current severe situation regarding myopia, it is essential to fully recognize that myopia among children and adolescents bears on national rejuvenation, the country’s future, and public health. With a sense of social responsibility and mission, we must contribute to the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents. It is hoped that the 3D pop-up book project, “Our Eyes,” will enhance awareness of eye care among children and adolescents, raise societal attention to their visual health, and foster a supportive environment where the entire society jointly protects children’s eyes, ensuring they have a bright future.

Focus on Adolescent Eye Health: Myopia Management Training Program Released

Meanwhile, the Essilor Foundation, in collaboration with the Shanghai School Health Care Association, the Shanghai Research Center for Optometry and Vision Science, and the Institute of Health Communication at Fudan University, jointly launched the “Essilor Foundation Shanghai Campus Myopia Management Training Program.” Over the next one to two years, leveraging expert resources from the Adolescent Myopia Prevention and Control Alliance, the program will conduct science-based eye care education and promotion in more than 3,000 primary and secondary schools across the city. This initiative marks the first project undertaken by the Shanghai Adolescent Health Management Schools following the inaugural Shanghai Adolescent Eye Care Summit. At the launch event, Associate Professor Zhang Lei, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai School Health Care Association, shared findings from a survey on the current state of school health care in Shanghai. The report highlighted that strong government commitment and the formulation of relevant policies are crucial to the sustainable advancement of eye health promotion, and that only through the leadership of key figures can such efforts achieve long-term impact and strategic vision. Dr. Zhao Jing from the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, as the lead of the core team responsible for compiling the training materials, provided detailed insights into the training program. The training will primarily target school health physicians, with content covering the causes of myopia、Prevention、Refractive Record Management、Corrective measures and other key components, with pilot programs planned to commence in Xuhui District and Minhang District.

Mr. Dumanis, Board Member of the Essilor Foundation, CEO of Essilor Group Greater China, and CEO of Essilor’s Global Instrumentation Division, stated: “Since entering China in 2014, the Essilor Foundation has been committed to eliminating ‘poor vision’ and its potential lifelong impacts. We have launched eye health promotion programs in more than 20 provinces and municipalities across China, providing free vision screenings to over 1.7 million students and offering free optometric examinations and glasses to more than 150,000 underprivileged students requiring vision correction. The current initiative to promote and support the 3D pop-up book Our Eyes and the school-based myopia management training program represents another effort and exploration by the Essilor Foundation to address vision problems in a sustainable manner. In the future, Essilor hopes to continue contributing to myopia prevention and control through the dissemination and training of eye care knowledge.”

^[1]The full name of the Essilor Foundation is the Shanghai Essilor Vision Health Foundation.

^[2]The Paperhttps://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2611838