Blindness and vision impairment affect at least 2.2 billion people around the world1.
The largest number of people with blindness and moderate-severe vision impairment reside in South Asia and Southeast Asia2 – See Figure
Figure: Number of people in the world affected by vision loss, 2020. Source: IAPB Vision Atlas
Advance the practice of world-class eye care in under-served regions of Asia and beyond, and entrench SNEC and SERI’s position as a global leader in eye care delivery, research and education.
To address current challenges in eye care in the region, develop future leaders in Global Ophthalmology and build sustainable eye care systems globally, through innovative solutions, advocacy, programmes, and partnerships.
Research: To promote and conduct eye care research that creates the evidence base to address prevailing challenges in ocular disease in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Ongoing initiatives:
Multicentre research projects helmed by SERI
Partnership with University College London for a joint PhD programme
Future initiatives:
Establish a SNEC-GO Research Collaboration and Consultancy Unit
Collaboration on research projects with regional ophthalmic centres
Mentoring of keen scientists and clinician scientists from around the region
Set-up of appropriate local research infrastructure in regional high-volume clinical centres as sister research centres
Create global research fellowship exchange opportunities to provide research training opportunities for eye care professionals in the region and beyond
Education: To train and educate eye care professionals globally
Partnerships with Aravind Eye Hospital and Chitrakoot Eye Hospital in India, Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Nepal and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)
Set-up of Fellowship exchange programmes, Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) Programme, Allied Health Professional (Optometry, Nursing) Education Programme
Develop SNEC’s Digital Ophthalmic Education Platform.
Create a digital repository of on-demand digital ophthalmic education materials – “Netflix for Eye”
Establish a series of subspecialty webinars
Set up “SNEC Global Ophthalmology Rounds” in partnership with regional institutes to discuss challenging cases seen in the region and augment practice of evidence-based medicine amongst ophthalmology residents regionally
Set up Global Clinical Fellow Exchange programmes to provide clinical/research training opportunities for ophthalmologists in the region and beyond
Expand SNEC’s community optometry training programme to centres in the region that would benefit from developing similar formal optometrist training programmes
Outreach & Advocacy: To play a key role in the building of ophthalmic institutes in the region to enhance provision of world-class eye care to all, regardless of locale or socioeconomic status.
Several ad-hoc private humanitarian initiatives by various SNEC faculty
Ongoing collaboration with various offices in SingHealth (e.g. SingHealth International Collaboration Office) for capacity building projects in Asia and beyond
Partnership with providers in under-served areas for impactful and sustainable eye care outreach programmes
Synergise with programmes by SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) and SingHealth International Collaboration Office (ICO)
Strengthen links with Institutes and key stakeholders, including IAPB and WHO to help advance eye care in the region
Obtain designation for SNEC as the first vision-related WHO Collaborating Centre in the ASEAN region.
Inculcate a strong culture of Global Ophthalmology and Outreach within SNEC
We are keen to discuss and develop new collaborations.
For any queries, please contact us:
References
World Health Organization. (2019). World report on vision Executive Summary. World Health Organization, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases.
Bourne RRA, Flaxman SR, Braithwaite T, et al. Magnitude, temporal trends, and projection of global prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Global Health. 2017; 5(9): E888-E897.
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