Rural Children’s Eye Care Program

In rural areas of Taiwan, due to the uneven distribution of medical resources, especially in ophthalmology with a concentration in urban areas, leaves rural and underserved regions lacking adequate access to essential eye care services. This often leads to delayed diagnoses or treatments, worsening sight condition. The Taiwan Prevent Blindness Foundation has long been committed to improving eye care in rural areas, particularly in remote mountain regions like Mudan and Manzhou township, where healthcare resources are scarce, the population is aging, and High rates of young adults emigrating. It is often challenging for children with vision problems to receive timely medical attention when their parents work far away, as the nearest eye clinic may still be a significant 40-minute drive, which frequently leads to many vision problems remaining untreated, causing them to worsen over time.

To address this situation, the Taiwan Prevent Blindness Foundation launched the “Rural Children’s Eye Care Program” in 2020. This program provides regular eye screenings and correction to safeguard the vision of children in these areas. It has served over 1,000 individuals to date.

Eye Care in Rural Areas — Boggle our mind

One of the students benefiting from this program is Xiaowen. Her teacher informed us that by fourth grade, Xiaowen already had -4.50 diopters of myopia, which continued to worsen. The medical team was deeply concerned about her eye health and investigated the possible causes.

They realized that Xiaowen comes from a single-parent household and often takes on chores by herself. Her mother is busy with work and rarely accompanies her. Xiaowen’s one and only pastime is using her smartphone, and she frequently uses it for extended periods, even in complete darkness, giving her eyes no rest. With no parental supervision, she lacked any awareness of eye care, which has led to a rapid increase in her myopia.
The ophthalmologist warned that if Xiaowen’s habits didn’t change immediately, her myopia would continue to deteriorate, potentially causing severe eye diseases and increasing the risk of blindness.

Regular Screenings and Correction—Safeguard Children’s Future

Fortunately, with the help of the “Rural Children’s Eye Care Program,” ophthalmologists and optometrists can regularly monitor Xiaowen’s eyesight and provide appropriate corrective measures to slow down the deterioration. In addition to medical assistance, the program also promotes eye health education, teaching children proper eye care habits and encouraging outdoor activities.

Through this program, more and more rural children are able to receive professional eye examinations in their familiar school environment, no longer delayed by geographical limitations. We believe that with continuous effort and attention, these children will enjoy a clearer and healthier future.