Treatment strategies for blinding fundus diseases

(Baonghean) - Recently, infectious eye diseases that cause blindness such as trachoma and corneal ulcers have been eliminated and well controlled by Nghe An Ophthalmology; Phaco endoscopic surgery has been widely developed and popularized at the district level, contributing to improving quality and increasing the number of cataract surgeries performed annually... Nghe An is always the leading province nationwide in the number of surgeries to relieve blindness.

Eye examination for patients at Nghe An Eye Hospital.

In recent years, fundus diseases that cause blindness such as diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and age-related macular degeneration have been a challenge for the Vietnamese ophthalmology sector in general. Concerned with the above challenges, the medical staff and doctors of Nghe An Eye Hospital always attach importance to the examination and treatment of fundus diseases that cause blindness, including them in the long-term action plan for the benefit and health of the people. Since 2008, Nghe An Eye Hospital has become a pioneer in the North Central region in this field. With the motto of "knowing - accessing - accepting" for patients, Nghe An Eye Hospital has taken a firm step in the strategy of examining and treating fundus diseases that cause blindness. That is, focusing on training staff in the field of fundus specialties; sending staff to train at major training centers in the country such as the Central Eye Hospital, sending staff to train abroad at Aravind Eye Hospital (India); cooperate with the Central Eye Hospital according to Project 1816 of the Ministry of Health to update and improve professional knowledge for staff. Currently, the hospital has 1 master, 1 doctor studying for a master's degree in ophthalmology, and 2 trained technicians.

In addition, Nghe An Eye Hospital has actively sought the help of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Health, hospital fees, international blindness prevention organizations such as ORBIS, CBM to invest in purchasing equipment and machinery such as: OCT scanner, fluorescent angiography machine, ultrasound machine, photocoagulation laser machine... with a total value of tens of billions of VND... Realizing that knowledge and understanding of fundus diseases causing blindness in the community is not high, even internal medicine and endocrinology doctors are not really interested, so the "iceberg" of patients with the disease is actually very large, so Nghe An Eye Hospital has focused on promoting communication work. The unit has implemented direct communication work each time it goes down to the community to direct, through leaflets; organized seminars on fundus diseases causing blindness with the participation of all ophthalmologists across the province along with internal medicine and endocrinology doctors; Coordinate with mass media agencies in the province to produce reports and programs on "your health" to broadcast on radio and television, publish in newspapers and magazines, and convey information to everyone.

With continuous efforts, up to now, patients with retinal diseases causing blindness in the province and neighboring areas can be completely assured of having the opportunity to be examined, detected and consulted promptly at Nghe An Eye Hospital. Currently, the hospital has performed retinal detachment surgery, laser photocoagulation intervention, intraocular injection to prevent neovascularization... and will soon deploy vitrectomy surgery, intraocular laser. In the coming time, to improve and meet the needs of patients, Nghe An Eye Hospital will continue to invest in equipment, constantly improve professional skills, meet the increasing requirements, and take care of people's health...

Doctor Nguyen Huu Le

Director of Nghe An Eye Hospital