The world's only flying ophthalmological hospital, the US-based Orbis, will launch a joint eye-protection project with a private Shenyang hospital this month.

Co-founded by Orbis and Shenyang He Eye Hospital, it is Orbis's first Chinese project, and will focus on eye care education and awareness to help prevent and reduce blindness caused by glaucoma.

The 18 month-project will cost about 8 million yuan, or close to US$1 million. It includes a mass media campaign about glaucoma, training for doctors from the countryside and the use of a DC-10, Orbis's renowned flying hospital.

"Many people have lost the opportunity to recover their sight due to ignorance about their disease. This project will help people know more about their eyes and take action in time," said Dr He Wei, president of the Shenyang hospital.

Statistics provided by Orbis and the hospital show more than 80 percent of blindness can be avoided and 60 percent can be cured with proper treatment, according to the figures.

But 70 percent of patients do not seek treatment until their conditions become very serious and half lose the opportunity to regain their sight.

Furthermore, 70-80 percent of the country's eye doctors work in urban hospitals, while 70-80 percent of the nation's 5.4 million blind live in rural areas. This, plus resource constraints such as a lack of equipment, means that rural people have little or no chance to enjoy quality eye care.

"So even though this project is not for an extended period, and the input is not so big, we hope it will help increase public awareness of how to protect one's sight and help improve local institutional capacity for providing affordable, quality eye care service," said Massimo Presente, Orbis' programme director in Hong Kong.

The He Eye Hospital has invested more than 2 million yuan (US$242,000) in purchasing the new advanced equipment. A further 5 million yuan (US$602,000) will be used for free screenings.

He said more than 40,000 people will receive cost-free glaucoma examinations, and a new glaucoma prevention and treatment center will be established as well as a glaucoma awareness club.

(China Daily May 17, 2004)