Number of visually impaired people in China falls by 700,000, data

Kids in school practice eye exercise with the help of a doctor. /CFP

China is observing its 25th National Eye Care Day on Saturday. An official report says China's number of visually impaired people has fallen greatly in recent decades, thanks to making plans that follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Vision 2020 Initiative.

Eliminating avoidable blindness is what "Vision 2020" – the Global Initiative by the WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness – is about.

An official report says in recent years, the number of visually impaired Chinese people over the age of 50 has fallen by more than 700,000.

"I'm touched by the achievements China has made in preventing blindness and promoting eye health over the past 21 years. We've set a good example for developing countries, some indications even got closer to developed countries," said Wang Ningli, Head of National Technical Guidance Group for Blindness Prevention, who's also the director of Beijing Tongren Hospital's Department of Ophthalmology.

Figures show surgeries for patients with cataract, a major cause of blindness, have been extensively promoted over the past 20 years. Currently cataract patients in China can receive timely treatment.

"Currently, the number of cataract operations per million people in China is close to 3,000, compared to 800 in 2000, which is a huge leap forward," said Zhou Changqiang, Vice Director of Medical Administration Bureau National Health Commission.

More than 190,000 cataract patients from China's poor areas have received free treatment from March 2018 to May 31 this year. Another 10,000 are in the plan for the rest of 2020. This year, China observes its 25th National Eye Care Day on June 6, aiming to raise awareness among people of all ages and disease groups.