More than 600 domestic ophthalmologists and their overseas colleagues discussed measures to combat blindness-related diseases in Vietnam at a national conference that opened in central coastal Da Nang City on Sept. 9.

At the four-day conference, the participants will also talk about the national anti-blindness programme, which carries out surgery on cataract patients to reduce the rate of blindness.

They will hear 76 local and foreign studies on how to treat refractive errors, glaucoma, strabismus, general eye injuries, cataract surgery and cornea transplants.

An exhibition on the latest ways of treating eye problems and new medicines as well as ophthalmology facilities is being held during the conference, jointly held by the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology and the Vietnam Ophthalmology Association.

A recent survey revealed that the rate of blindness in people over the age of 50 in Vietnam has dropped from 4.7 percent in 2002 to 3.1 percent. Vietnam now has 1,188 ophthalmologists and 1,516 eye nurses, said the survey./.