Cambodia is a country of spectacular landscapes and a busy, vibrant culture. Its twenty provinces, when combined, are slightly larger in size than the Australian island state of Tasmania. Unfortunately, it only has 24 optometrists serving its population of 14 million.

Sadly some of Cambodia’s provinces have no access to an optometrist. Cambodia’s eye health now relies on 87 eye nurses - a situation ICEE is working to improve.

ICEE optometrist and Programme Development Officer, Dr May Ho, travelled to some of Cambodia’s most remote villages, in Kampong Thom province, in late 2007.

Dr Ho joined a dedicated team of local eye nurses and optometrists, working to improve current eye health systems by implementing the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness survey. The data will help determine prevalence, as well as provide information necessary to create better systems to meet the demands of eye health services. This information will be used to establish services required to eliminate avoidable blindness, ultimately forming the next National Eye Care Plan for Cambodia.

Dr Ho reflects on her time in Cambodia, “The people of these quiet villages were kind and incredibly welcoming…we performed our examinations in front yards or underneath houses to escape the heat…of course everything was conducted in front of a curious crowd of children, cows, and even a few buffaloes!

These people had little in terms of possessions, but we were often offered fresh fruit from their trees and places to rest our tired feet. One thing I found incredibly troubling was that most of our patients were unaware they could get glasses or that glasses could potentially cure they vision difficulties. I am proud that ICEE is playing a major part in the initiative to give the people of Cambodia access to quality eye care.”