How a broken pair of glasses put Khang’s future at risk

Loan, a nurse by profession, decided to take Khang to the hospital. As Loan often takes her son along when she works, he is familiar with the hospital. It was there that Khang was diagnosed with severe refractive error and astigmatism – a condition where the eye isn’t round, causing blurred and distorted vision.

Refractive error in the UK is very common, affecting around 34 million people. Luckily, here in the UK, we have the services needed to treat refractive error. A simple eye screening and test can catch these problems, and a pair of glasses to treat refractive error is the solution. But for those without easy access to care, getting that help isn’t as simple. It’s a reminder of how important it is to push for better eye care for everyone so more children like Khang can have better access to eyecare.

Determined to help her son, Loan used their hard-earned family savings to buy Khang a pair of glasses. At nearly two million Vietnamese Dong (around £62), the cost was a huge amount for their modest income, but Loan couldn’t bear to see her son struggle. When Khang first put on his glasses, Loan watched her son’s unforgettable reaction.

“He stared at me for a long time and smiled. It was as if he’d never seen his mom’s face that clear so it’s a bit exciting and strange to him."

But, as any parent of a toddler knows, glasses aren’t always easy to keep on. Khang didn't enjoy the feeling of wearing them so repeatedly took them off. Eventually, the glasses broke. Loan couldn’t afford a new pair, so she glued them back together, hoping they would hold until she could save enough money.

When Khang turned four, the family heard about a free vision screening program organised by Orbis, in collaboration with Can Tho Children’s Hospital. There, Khang received another eye test, and it was discovered that his astigmatism had worsened.

Thanks to Orbis, Khang was given a brand-new pair of glasses, free of charge. When asked if he liked them, he smiled and nodded with joy. His vision was finally corrected, and his life changed.

Now, Khang is happy and free to play, learn, and interact with other children, something he struggled with before. Loan is deeply grateful for the support, saying, “Without this wonderful support, I’m not sure when we can buy him new glasses and how his vision would be. This programme truly means a lot to us. I believe there are more children and families like us who receive the support. Thank you so much.”

Thanks to Orbis, Khang is just one of many children whose lives have been transformed by a simple pair of glasses. Together we’re transforming eye care in Vietnam with new paediatric centres, school vision checks, and innovative technology for diabetic care. We're also improving cataract treatments and supporting ongoing training for eye care professionals.