In Vietnam, Orbis funds free eye surgery for children
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Thirty-one children in Vietnam with strabismus (crossed eyes) and other vision disorders received free surgery from specialists with the Orbis organization at the Central Pediatrics Hospital in Hanoi.
The surgeries took place during a practical training course on strabismus and vision disorder surgery for children, co-hosted by Orbis and the hospital from September 21 to 25. Eighteen of the children underwent surgery with guidance from international experts, and Orbis covered all treatment costs not reimbursed by health insurance.
Strabismus occurs when the eyes do not align properly, and if left untreated, it can harm vision, impact daily life, and affect a child’s confidence and social integration. One mother shared her hope that the surgery would help her daughter avoid being stigmatized because of her eye condition and a disability in her left hand. The training also benefited Vietnamese medical professionals.
Over 20 doctors and nurses from several hospitals, including the Central Pediatrics Hospital and Hanoi Medical University, practiced modern surgical techniques, such as botulinum toxin injections for acute strabismus and muscle transposition for complex cases. Orbis has supported eye care in Vietnam since 1996 and continues to work with the Central Pediatrics Hospital to improve pediatric eye care, with a focus on retinopathy of prematurity.
