PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Health has called on members of the public to go and get an eye examination at least every two years.

For World Sight Day on 13 October 2022, the Ministry of Health announced that it has developed the Third National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Blindness 2021-2030 with the goal of "reducing the prevalence rate of blindness to 0.35% by 2030."

The Ministry calls on all citizens to go for eye examinations at eye service facilities throughout all capitals and provinces of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Ministry stresses that people must have their eyes checked at least once every two years.

The Ministry, however, added that for those who are over the age of 40 and have a family history of glaucoma (high blood pressure or complications affecting vision), diabetes, high blood pressure, prolonged smoking, glasses wearing, or a high level of cataracts, they must get their eyes checked annually.

World Sight Day is celebrated annually in the second week of October. This year the day fell on 13 October with the theme, "Love Your Eyes."

World Sight Day seeks to place more attention on eye health as a global issue and to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining eye health among all citizens, families, and communities. The day also seeks to urge prioritization of eye health initiatives, and help promote the provision of eye health services for all citizens around the world.

The Ministry of Health has stated that the rate of blindness in Cambodia has decreased from 1.2% in 1995 to 0.37% in 2019.

The achievements made over the past 27 years include the addition of 60 senior ophthalmologists, 103 doctor ophthalmologists, 158 Nurse ophthalmologists, 105 Optical ophthalmologists, the provision of primary eye health care training, and more.

In the capital city, Phnom Penh, there are four hospitals that provide eye health services, including a senior eye specialist at the national hospital. In the provinces, there are 22 buildings and 18 care centers dedicated to vision.

Regarding prevention, research, support, and leadership, the Ministry has developed a National Action Plan and Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Management of Blindness, have included eye health indicators in the Ministry of Health's Strategic Health Plan (which is included in the programs of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Women's Affairs), the inclusion of disability in the National Strategic Plan on Blindness, and more.