AKP Phnom Penh, April 11, 2025 --

Government departments and vision care organisations have joined forces to provide vision screenings and free glasses to improve eye health of communities in need.
 
According to a press release AKP received this morning, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Ministry of Health hosted a free vision clinic in Cambodia last month, providing free eye tests and eyeglasses to those living in Phnom Penh’s Khan Dangkor. The vision clinic reached more than 1,000 individuals in one day, across all ages, setting a record for the Foundation’s efforts in Cambodia.

The initiative was supported by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the National Programme for Eye Health (NPEH) and vision care organisations OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF).

In Phnom Penh alone, myopia affects an estimated 49.1 percent of adults, impacting education, economic productivity, and workforce participation. In Cambodia, an estimated 61 percent of early visual impairments stem from refractive errors, which could have been corrected with a pair of glasses.

Geographical barriers, limited financial resources, a shortage of eye care professionals, and low awareness of vision health all hinder access to care, leaving many without ever seeing a specialist for their vision needs.

Pun Samnang, a local resident of Chamkar Leu district, Kampong Cham province, shared how receiving the free glasses has transformed her life. “Since I received the free glasses, I can see clearly, and all the symptoms of eye redness and dry eye are gone,” she said.

The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation eliminates uncorrected poor vision by increasing access to vision care although programmes including vision screenings, access to affordable eyeglasses, and training for local healthcare providers, ensuring long-term eye care solutions for communities in need.

“By bringing together partners from government, healthcare, and civil society, we are strengthening Cambodia’s eye health ecosystem and ensuring more people receive the care they need. Investing in vision care not only improves individual well-being but also reduces long-term healthcare costs, eases the burden on medical systems, and enhances economic participation,” said Patricia Koh, Head of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation in Southeast Asia.

The partners are now extending the delivery of vision care in Cambodian communities by training personnel at local and national levels to provide vision screenings and eyeglasses to those in need. This effort supports the objectives of the National Programme for Eye Health (NPEH) in increasing eye health services across the country and reducing avoidable blindness and vision impairment.

“I’ve been able to help people in my community recognise early signs of vision problems and direct them to proper care. It makes me proud to be helpful and improve people’s lives,” said Touch Laiheng, who was trained in one such programme at the Vision Center at Chamkar Leu Referral Hospital, Kampong Cham province.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs recognises the importance of good vision in empowering individuals, particularly women and girls, who face stigma for wearing glasses and have lower eye health-seeking rates, to participate fully in education, employment, and daily life.

“Women suffer from eye diseases more than men but seek check-ups less often, which can lead to serious complications, including blindness. It is crucial for people of all ages, especially children, to prioritise eye health, and through strong partnerships, we are taking action to raise awareness and encourage regular vision check-ups,” said H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs, Cambodia.

Minister of Women’s Affairs H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi (3rd R) at a free vision clinic

By C. Nika