The ICEE Vision Centre and national office aims to reduce avoidable blindness and vision impairment due to uncorrected refracted error (a common condition which could be assisted with spectacles).

Nationally, Cambodia has an existing network of 19 Eye Units based in its provinces. The units are staffed by Ophthalmologists, Basic Eye Doctors, Basic Eye Nurses and Ophthalmic Nurses. Unfortunately, there are only 24 optometrists serving its population of 14 million. The ICEE Vision Centre and office in Phnom Penh hopes to address the limited availability of basic eye care services and provide the community with access to eye checks, affordable prescription glasses and referrals to other eye care services.

Attending the opening was Ms Fiona Cochaud, Charge d’Affaires from the Australian Embassy Phnom Penh, Dr Seiha, Coordinator of the National Programme for Eye Health and Professor Nag Rao, Chairperson of ICEE and head of the LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. Professor Rao is credited with establishing a model for expansion of eye care systems and access to care in developing countries, adopted by ICEE and now implemented in communities worldwide.

“The Phnom Penh office and Vision Centre is an important initiative for ICEE in this region. The office will act as an administrative centre for managing projects in consultation with the National Programme for Eye Health, and in collaboration with other local agencies,” said Professor Rao.

“ICEE is currently training local eye care workers and, by doing so, we aim to increase the accessibility of eye care for the people of Phnom Penh and across Cambodia in the longer term.”

“Preventable blindness and vision impairment is restricting the ability of so many Cambodians to support themselves and their families and participate productively in the community,” said Professor Rao.

“The additional consequence is the economic burden on the community: the global economy loses $269 billion in productivity annually due to vision impairment which could be eliminated simply, and very cost-effectively, by an eye examination and a pair of spectacles,” he said in his speech to representatives from local eye and health care facilities and non-government organisations attending the launch.

“Of the 158.1 million worldwide with vision impairment resulting from uncorrected refractive error, 8.7 million are avoidably blind. But overwhelmingly, it is the 670 million people whose difficulty seeing at near distance that is burdening communities and health care systems worldwide. Globally, of those with uncorrected refractive errors, 90% live in developing communities. It is critical that this health crisis be addressed and its crippling impact upon the development of communities and nations reduced,” Professor Rao added.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Gerd Schlenther, ICEE Programmes Manager for Asia-Pacific, said he has watched the region as it begins to address this recently identified problem.

In 2004, ICEE conducted a situational analysis of the refractive error services in Cambodia with the Christian Blind Mission International and Disability Action Council of Cambodia. Together with the Cambodian Optometrists Association (COA) and the National Programme for Eye Health, ICEE developed the Ministry of Health –approved three month refraction training curriculum and conducted a ‘Train the Trainers’ programme for refraction trainers at the COA.

According to Mr Schlenther, “Our training models are all about developing sustainable systems that are culturally appropriate and will last beyond ICEE involvement in each country.”

“The support and involvement of local governments is critical to the success of these programmes and the Cambodian Government has been an important partner. Additionally, our work throughout Asia-Pacific is also being helped immensely by funding through the Australian Government’s Avoidable Blindness Initiative.”

Manager of the Phnom Penh ICEE Vision Centre, Mr Chea Seila, says that eye care services are open to the public. “We conduct eye examinations for free and then prescribe and make up the spectacles at a cost that makes wearing glasses affordable for everyone. I’m very proud of the centre – we are already seeing people and so far the feedback is great. It so good to see a service that really makes eye care available to even the most disadvantaged,” he added.