Prof. He Mingguang (left) and Dr Le Anh Tuan (right) during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration on myopia management in Vietnam.
Group photo of the panelists and experts attending the meeting for the National Consensus Statement on Myopia Management in Vietnam.
Dr Le Anh Tuan delivering the opening speech at the meeting for the National Consensus Statement on Myopia Management in Vietnam.
Prof. He Mingguang shares his expert insights on the National Consensus Statements for Myopia Management in Vietnam.
From left: Dr TRAN Dinh Minh Huy, Senior Ophthalmologist, Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital; Prof. HE Mingguang, Chair Professor, School of Optometry and Director of RCSV, PolyU ; Prof. Jason C.S. YAM, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Dr NGUYEN Van-Huy, Vice-Director of Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by Prof. He Mingguang, a globally recognised researcher in ophthalmology, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology of the School of Optometry and Director of the RCSV, PolyU and Dr. Le An Tuan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital. The MOU underscores Vietnam’s commitment to fostering international collaboration to advance child eye health.
Key Leaders and Contributors
The consensus meeting brought together a distinguished group of healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and representatives from leading NGOs, including:
- Prof. He Mingguang, MD, PhD
Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Optometry;
Global STEM Scholar under HKSARG's Global STEM Professorship Scheme;
Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health;
Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Dr. Le Anh Tuan, MD, MSc.
Director, Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital - Prof. Jason C.S. Yam, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) - Dr. Pham Nguyen Huan, MD
Deputy Director, Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Dong, MD, PhD
Director, Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology (VNIO); Vice President and General Secretary, Vietnam Ophthalmological Society - Dr. Nguyen Van Huy, MD, PhD
Deputy Director, Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology - Dr. Vuong Anh Duong, MD, PhD
Deputy Head, Department of Medical Service Administration, Ministry of Health, Vietnam - Prof. Ton Thi Kim Thanh, MD, PhD
President, Vietnam Ophthalmological Society - Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Huu Chuc, MD, PhD
President, Ho Chi Minh City Ophthalmological Society - Dr Tran Dinh Minh Huy, MD, PhD
Senior Ophthalmologist, Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital and Senior Lecturer, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City - Dr Elaine Yuen Ying To
Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Optometry; Member, Research Centre for SHARP Vision, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Dr Gong Xia
Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Optometry and Member, Research Centre for SHARP Vision, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Mr Le Quang Tram Tinh
Country Director, Fred Hollows Foundation Vietnam - Ms Luong Thi Quynh Lan
Country Director, Eye Care Foundation Vietnam
Collaboration and Key Outcomes
The meeting, held in collaboration with the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), PolyU, was praised as a resounding success. Experts worked together to develop comprehensive guidelines that address critical areas of childhood myopia management, including:
- Early detection and screening for at-risk children.
- Evidence-based prevention strategies, such as increased outdoor activities and reduced screen time.
- Advanced interventions like low-dose atropine, myopia control contact lenses, and optical devices and repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy to slow myopia progression.
Prof. He Mingguang, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, School of Optometry and Director of RCSV, PolyU and a key contributor to the meeting, remarked:
"The collaboration between Vietnam and the Research Centre for SHARP Vision of PolyU is a groundbreaking step in addressing the rising prevalence of myopia. By combining international expertise with local insight, we’re setting a strong foundation for sustainable myopia management solutions."
Dr Le Anh Tuan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, added:
"This initiative demonstrates Vietnam's commitment to improving children’s eye care and reducing the long-term burden of myopia. With the support of RCSV and other global partners, we’ve developed an actionable framework to protect the vision of future generations."
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Dong, Director of Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology, emphasized:
“The implementation of the consensus statements in clinical practice would be much effective with fast adoption in the eye hospitals and clinics since this solidaristic work can be guided and approved by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.”
About the Initiative
The development of the National Myopia Management Consensus Guidelines for Children is a collaborative effort led by Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology (VNIO), and the Vietnam Ophthalmological Society (VOS), in partnership with the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The initiative also benefited from the participation of international experts, including Prof. Jason C.S. Yam from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Dr Elaine Yuen Ying To and Dr Gong Xia from RCSV, PolyU.
The initiative aims to:
- Standardize clinical practices for myopia management, ensuring consistent, high-quality care across Vietnam.
- Promote school and community-based health policies to detect and prevent myopia in children.
- Enhance training and knowledge-sharing for healthcare professionals to implement the latest evidence-based treatments.
- Foster international cooperation to exchange expertise, resources, and research for long-term impact.
This collaboration highlights Vietnam’s dedication to leveraging international expertise and evidence-based practices to address the growing public health challenge of myopia. By prioritizing prevention and early intervention, the guidelines aim to significantly improve children’s vision and overall quality of life.
