The biennial event, the fifth of its kind in the imperial Hue city, is one of activities marking the 120th founding anniversary of the hospital - the first Western-styled hospital in Vietnam, and part of the ongoing Hue Festival 2014.
 

The hospital’s Director Bui Duc Phu said the symposium was first held in the hospital during the Hue Festival in 2006 with the assistance from the US’ Hawaii ophthalmology organisation and it has now become a regular event of the Hue Festival.

The seminar covers a number of thematic issues such as glaucoma, eye treatment and surgery, giving ophthalmologists a chance to get updated on eye diseases and treatments.

According to the Vietnam Ophthalmological Society (VOS) and the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology, the number of Vietnamese people suffering from blindness now accounts for 3.1% of the total population, while 15-40% of the population including about 3 million children, have refractive eye disorders.

The ophthalmological sector is intent on reducing the rate of blind people aged over 50 to 2.35% by 2019 and establish eye care centres for children.