Blindness in China: An epidemic that needs your intervention

中國盲疾：
要你的介入

BLINDNESS IN CHINA: AN EPIDEMIC
THAT NEEDS YOUR INTERVENTION

YOUR SUPPORT CAN
TRANSFORM LIVES

中國有820萬盲人和視力障礙者-超過丹麥，芬蘭或挪威的人口總數- 有
八成都是生活在農村地區。這種不平衡是因爲衆多訓練有素的眼科醫生
都在城市裏工作。在中國的2萬8千名眼科醫生中，有七成五是在城市醫
院工作。

奧比斯特別爲了生活在中國農村的40萬盲童和視障兒童一直堅持，對抗
這種令人無法接受的現實。

There are 8.2 million people who are blind and visually impaired
in China – more than the total population of Denmark, Finland or
Norway. Of these 8.2 million people, 80% live in rural areas. This
imbalance is due to a severe lack of trained ophthalmologists
working outside the country’s urban centres. Of China’s 28,000
eye doctors, 75% work in urban hospitals.

Orbis continues to fight this unacceptable reality, especially for
the sake of the 400,000 blind and visually impaired children living
throughout China’s countryside.

問題很明顯。 解決方案亦一樣。我們需要為中國
農村地區提供更多眼睛保健服務

The problem is clear. So is the solution.
We must provide greater access to eye care
in rural areas of China

奧比斯多年來的努力已經成功在中國32個省份裏領導了230個項目。我們
已經培訓了兩萬多名眼睛保健工作者，完成了超過450萬篩查檢查，並進
行了13萬拯救視力的手術。

Over the years, Orbis has led 230 projects across 32 provinces
in China. We have trained more than 20,000 eye health workers,
completed over 4,500,000 eye screening examinations and
performed 130,000 sight-saving surgeries.

奧比斯的方法很簡單，而且很有效
Orbis’s approach is simple and effective

奧比斯爲了可以在農村裏居住的數百萬人提供服務，不停地在這般地區
提供培訓和擴充我們的眼睛保健團體。我們雖然在取得進展，可是現實
更加需要你們的幫助。我們需要改變這令人恐懼的現實。在像加拿大一
般的國家，我們從不會為得到所需的眼睛護理以三思，讓我們很難想象
在其他的國家會有這般事情發生。

We train and develop eye care teams in rural areas, providing the
skills that empower them to treat members of their community. We
are making progress, yet have never needed your help more. We
must act to change this reality. From a Canadian perspective, it’s hard
to imagine that this could be happening in an economically powerful
country like China.

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奧比斯在前綫-抗擊中國可
避免的盲症

ORBIS ON THE FRONT LINE
FIGHTING AVOIDABLE
BLINDNESS IN CHINA

奧比斯30 多年來，一向為中國努力，放

中國為前列，一直都為中國的農村地區奔

跑，繼續為中國的農村地區改善當前可怕 Xinjiang Liaoning
的局面。在過去的四年， 奧比斯培訓了 Hebei

4300位眼科醫生和超過13，600名中級眼科 Gansu
人員。這種方案有助於維持這些地區的眼 Shanxi Jiangsu
Anhui

睛保健項目所需的人力及資源。 Sichuan Zhejiang
Jiangxi

奧比斯與主要利益相關者密切合作，有關 Fujian
Guangdong

機構包括衛生部，國家醫院管理舘，中

國眼科學會和國家預防盲症委員會等。 奧比斯目前有七個項目專注于建立持

續，全面，高質量的眼科護理服務。

我們為眼睛保健專業人員提供了25名國際獎學金， 亦同時提供了最佳實踐和
培訓的機會。奧比斯製作了四套國家認可的指南和教材科本， 關注于眼科技
術和眼光專業， 白内障和青光眼亦包括在内。

加拿大義工學院BRIAN LEONARD 醫生說：「在過去的30 多年來，奧比斯在中國能
夠取得令人難以置信的成功，是很難得， 也是很關鍵地重要。對，距離目標還是
一場漫長的路，但細想一下，如果沒有奧比斯為中國的農村地區一直付出，堅持和
努力， 為他建立了增長的基礎，整個中國的眼睛保健狀態又會變成怎樣呢？」

奧比斯在臨床領域建立了眼科護理團隊的專長包括：斜視，青光眼，眼光，
糖尿病視網膜病變，白内障，矯形器，神經眼科，内膜，視網膜手術，眼科護
理，生物醫學工程和麻醉學。由國際專家義工學院領導的眼科飛機醫院和醫院
培訓（HBT）， 奧比斯為各級眼科醫護人員提供適當的臨床和技術培訓。

奧比斯的網上視頻團隊與沈陽海大學合作，為支持教育中國學生和醫院轉移教
育技能，播放現場手術。 透過現場手術可以 讓學習更加全面，對教育和學習
非常有效，在中國播放世界各地參與國家的現場手術取得成功，顯示了建立強
有力和合作關係的有效性和影響力。

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For over 30 years, China has been a key focus of our sight-saving
efforts. We’ve worked across rural China to improve the current and
dire situation. In the past 4 years, we’ve trained over 4,300
ophthalmologists and more than 13,600 mid-level ophthalmic
personnel. This has helped create the capacity to sustain the kind of
eye care programs these underserved areas require.

“It is vitally important that Orbis is able to build upon the incredible success
they have had in China over the past 30 years. Yes, there is still a long way to go,
but just imagine the state of eye care across China if Orbis had not been laying
the foundations for growth.” – Dr. Brian Leonard, Canadian Volunteer Faculty

Working closely with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of
Health, the National Institution of Hospital Administration, the Chinese
Ophthalmology Society and the National Prevention of Blindness
Committee, we currently have 7 projects that focus on building
sustainable, comprehensive, high-quality eye care services. We have
also supported 25 international fellowships and have created 4 sets
of nationally recognized guidelines and textbooks.

We build the technical expertise of eye care teams in numerous
clinical areas. Our Flying Eye Hospital programs and hospital-based
training projects provide clinical and technical training for all levels of
eye care providers.

Our Cybersight team, in collaboration with He University in Shenyang,
has broadcast live surgeries to Chinese students and hospitals throughout
the country. These broadcasts have created a global classroom with
extraordinary participation across China, demonstrating the effectiveness
of strong partnerships with strategic institutions and hospitals.

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中國人民面對的危機

THE CRISIS FACING
CHINA’S PEOPLE

白内障是引致中國成人和兒童失明的主要原因， 佔所有失明者的五成。
每年大概40 萬人因爲白内障而完全失明。

在農村地區生活的眼科醫生面臨的問題是手術培訓， 他們獲得的手術練習機
會是小之又小。 由於經驗不足，讓像常見的白内障手術也進行不了。

在中國2400 家縣級醫院中只有五成五是提供白内障手術，真是令人震驚。這
般情況意味著許多需要手術的人必須遠行才可以得到治療。可是大多數的人
都是無法的。

由於生活在中國農村地區的盲人和視障人士不停上升，若有經驗和技術的專
業人員和支持人員不足， 他們將會持續生活在黑暗之中。

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness for both adults and children
in China, responsible for 50% of all those who are blind. Each year, they
cause approximately 400,000 people to fully lose their sight.
The problem facing those living in rural areas is that many rurally-based
ophthalmologists have little to no hands-on training. They are therefore
unable to perform required surgeries – even something as routine and
in-demand as a cataract procedure.
It is shocking to think that only 55% of China’s 2,400 county level hospitals
offer cataract surgery. This means that many patients who require the
surgery to avoid blindness are forced to travel incredible distances to
receive care. In most cases, they are unable to.
Without an adequate number of trained professionals and support staff,
more blind and visually impaired people living in China’s rural areas will
continue to live in darkness.

5

需求因人口老化增加
The Added Demands of an Aging Population

中國現在有2.17 億人超過65嵗，隨著人口老化的增長在這問題上增加了巨大
的壓力，我們迫切地需要額外訓練有素的專業眼科人員來增加取得白内障手
術的機會。

解決方案很簡單- 我們需要在農村地區培訓出更多的眼睛保健專業人員。 這
個目標從來都是奧比斯一向優先考盧的事項，可是你的支持和幫忙是很重要
的。我們需要你，才可以為更多中國人提供所需的援助。

With the rise of an aging population (217 million people over the age of
65) adding to this overwhelming problem, additional trained eye care
professionals are desperately needed to increase access to cataract surgery.

The solution is simple – we must train more eye care professionals in
rural areas. This is, and continues to be a priority for Orbis, but we need
your support to increase our efforts and reach more of China’s people.

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小豪

SHI HAO

小豪只得七嵗，他的媽媽說：「作爲父母，我怎能不擔心？」儘管小豪表面
上是開朗及極， 笑容滿面，亦常用積極態度去面對人生，但他曾經自信心低
落，不敢跟其他小朋友一起玩耍。小豪的媽媽加說 ：「能夠見到我的兒子重
立他的人生，重見光明，保持健康是我最大的願望。」
小豪患有先天性外斜視，一個讓他的左眼向外翻的眼疾。 他三嵗的時侯曾經
接受過奧比斯的捐助， 讓他得到了第一階段的治療。然而，由於小豪治療的
第二階段需要的手術經費是等於他一家每月收入的四陪，因此被逼等四年才
可以進行第二階段的手術。
對小豪而言，值得慶幸的是奧比斯的飛機醫院來得正合時， 在本年六月到達
了山東省臨沂市， 並選擇了為小豪治療他的眼疾。小豪的等待終于結束了。
如果小豪的眼疾不可以及時得到適當的治療， 他的病情可能會受到影響，造
成 嚴重的視力損害，或更懷的是讓他永遠失明。

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但是感謝所有對奧比斯作出善舉的人，小豪媽媽的心
願終于可以達成-她的兒子現在可以像其他小朋友一
樣，健康和快樂

Thanks to Orbis supporters, Shi Hao’s mother now
has her wish – her son is happy and healthy

“As a parent, how could I not worry about my son?” said the mother of
seven-year-old Shi Hao. Despite his cheerful smile and positive attitude,
his mother told us Shi Hao once had low self-esteem and feared other
children. “It was my greatest wish that my son could see properly and be
healthy” she added.

Shi Hao suffered from exotropia, which caused his left eye to turn outward.
Orbis supporters funded the first stage of his treatment when he was
3 years old, but he was forced to wait 4 years for his much-needed second
operation as the cost was four times his parents’ monthly income.

Shi Hao’s wait finally came to an end when he was treated by the team on
the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital in Shandong. For Shi Hao, Orbis’s arrival was
just in time. If left untreated much longer, his condition could potentially
have led to full blindness.

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9

小相霖

XIANG LIN

在2015年，我們第一次和面對右眼白内障手術的五嵗山東省小孩小相霖見
面。 在2016年， 當他快要接受第二階段的白内障手術時，我們再次來到探
訪。 他的兩次手術都是由奧比斯訓練有數的專業外科醫生， 在跟奧比斯合作
的醫院裏為他進行的。
今年六月， 李佑榮醫生探訪了小 相霖, 為他的進展作出評估。由於早期的白
内障，小相霖發生了眼球震顫，一個永久性地降低他的視力和深度感的眼
疾，影響平衡和協調。
然而，全靠 奧比斯提供了李佑榮醫生特製的一副眼鏡，小相霖現在的視力有
重大改善。雖然他的視力縂會繼續有點模糊，但是全靠對奧比斯一直支持的
慷慨捐贈者， 小相霖終于可以像其他的小朋友一樣生活。

We met five-year-old Xiang Lin from Shandong Province in 2015, prior to
his first cataract surgery. We visited him again in 2016, as he underwent a
second surgery to remove a cataract from his other eye. In both cases, he
was operated on by an Orbis-trained surgeon, at an Orbis partner hospital.
This past June, Dr. Vincent Lee visited with Xiang Lin again. As a result of
his earlier cataracts, Xiang Lin had developed nystagmus, a condition
which permanently reduces vision and depth perception, as well as affecting
balance and coordination.
Now fitted with a special pair of eyeglasses prescribed by Dr. Lee and
supplied by Orbis, Xiang Lin’s vision has improved dramatically. Although his
sight will always remain slightly blurry, Xiang Lin can now live life as every
child should – all thanks to Orbis and our generous supporters.

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實現可持續的轉變

MAKING A
SUSTAINABLE CHANGE

這句諺語是奧比斯一向做事的核心。對於在發展中國家裏避免失明的最有效
方法就是為當地的眼睛保健專員提供所需的設備和技術。
支持奧比斯，你不但可以幫助像小豪和小相霖一樣的兒童重見光明，為他們
出一分力， 也可以為像李佑榮和宋衛民一樣的醫生或其他眼睛保健人員提供
關鍵的培訓， 讓他們可以得到需要的知識和專長。至今，可以學已致用，為
兒童治療的眼科醫生已到數千名。

授人以魚，不如授人以漁
Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day;
teach someone to fish and you feed them for a lifetime

This proverb is at the core of our approach. The most effective way to
eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries is to equip and
empower local eye care professionals with the skills and techniques they
need to treat people in their own communities.
By supporting Orbis, you not only help provide sight-saving treatment
for children like Shi Hao and Xiang Lin, but you also fund critical training
for doctors and other eye health workers, who gain the knowledge and
expertise needed to treat patients and train others.

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外科醫生李佑榮醫生

DR. VINCENT LEE

小時候，我在公屋長大，每日都看著各個家庭的掙扎- 為生活而奮鬥，為孩
子而努力，為家庭所需而費心，真是一件令人心酸的事，讓我希望我當時可
以伸出緩手。

我參與過奧比斯三個不同的救盲項目，今次到訪的項目地區是中國山東臨沂。 與奧
比斯一向的計劃一樣，目標是為該地區的眼睛保健團體提供最優質的配備及最新的
技能和技術，讓義工們都可以盡他所能在社區中治療有需要的人。

在我成長中，我知道如果我有一日有幫助別人的能力，我會盡我所能和付出
我最大努力去幫助有需要的人。我一直堅信我們應該盡我們最大努力去幫助
有需要的人。因此，我選擇成為奧比斯的義工。

作爲一位眼科醫生，我有能力去幫助那些可以逃脫失明的人，讓他們無需承
受不必要的痛苦- 我有能力讓他們可以再次重見光明。這是每個有能力的人
都應該實行的職責。

I grew up in public housing. Every day, I watched families struggle – to earn
a living, to care for their children and to get the help they needed. It was
heartbreaking. I wished I could help.

I have volunteered on 3 different Orbis programs so far, most recently in
Shandong Province. The aim was to equip local eye care teams in the region
with new surgical skills and techniques – to give them the power to treat
those in need in their communities.

As I grew up, I knew if I were ever in a position to help others, I would. It is
my firm belief that we should all do our utmost to help those who need it.
That’s why I volunteer with Orbis.
As an ophthalmologist, I have the power to help those who are suffering
needlessly from blindness. I have the power to help someone see again.
This is the kind of power that simply must be put to use.

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