Changing lives with Optometry Giving Sight

Huynh (pictured) is making optometry history in Vietnam as one of eighteen students enrolled in the very first optometry course in Vietnam, launched on October 29, 2014 at the Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine (PNTU), Ho Chi Minh City.

Huynh took the university entrance exam for general medicine specialization at the PNTU. Narrowly missing out on a place in the medical course, he applied for the optometry course when it became available.

"Although there is no one in my family working in the health sector, they still expect me to become a doctor," said Huynh. "They are so delighted that I chose to study this field, my work is still related to the health sector alongside doctors and ophthalmologists in hospitals."

Although Optometry is a new profession in Vietnam, Huynh is already looking forward to obtaining his degree.

"Being an optometrist will provide me with a challenging and rewarding career as I will meet, treat and work with a variety of different people," he said.

There are an estimated 21 million people in Vietnam with uncorrected refractive error, three million of those children.

CooperVision, through its support of Optometry Giving Sight, played an important role in helping to fund the optometry course at PNTU. The next stage in the development of Optometry in Vietnam will be the establishment of a much needed program in Hanoi.