Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

SEEING the substantial potential in the eye care market in China’s first- and second-tier cities, Bright Eye (“Purui” in pinyin), a private hospital chain listed on the ChiNext board, opened its first hospital in Shenzhen on Sunday following almost a month of trial operation.

Occupying 20,000 square meters of space within a 14-story building adjacent to the Taoyuan Metro Station in Nanshan District, the hospital provides specialized treatment for ametropia resulting from myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, cataracts, ocular fundus diseases, and glaucoma.

While China presently permits its licensed doctors to practice across different hospitals, Liu Hongshan, a corneal disease specialist and the head of the new hospital, says that the core team of over a dozen specialists at the hospital is exclusively employed by the institution.

This team, led by Liu Quan, specializing in SMILE laser eye surgery, includes other seasoned professionals who have served extensively at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, the premier eye hospital in China. The hospital has also forged a research alliance with the Nunemiso Eye Center in South Korea.

“Given the rapidly aging population and the trend towards a smartphone-centric lifestyle, think of the surge in online entertainment and social media usage, there is a burgeoning demand for eye care services,” Liu Hongshan explained to Shenzhen Daily.

China already had over 201 million citizens aged 65 and above, constituting 14.2% of the population as of 2021, a demographic shift that will inevitably exacerbate the prevalence of cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and other age-related eye conditions.

A 2020 survey by the National Health Commission unveiled that the overall prevalence of myopia among Chinese children and adolescents stood at 52.7%, the highest globally. An alarming 80.5% of high school students suffered from nearsightedness, as per the survey findings.

Liu Hongshan cautioned that severe myopia could precipitate grave complications such as detached retina and glaucoma, potentially culminating in blindness.

“Approximately 14.3% of 6-year-olds in China are myopic; without timely intervention, this demographic is particularly vulnerable to severe myopia and serious eye ailments,” he said.

He recommends that parents ensure their children undergo annual eye examinations from birth, with those diagnosed with ametropia advised to visit the doctor at least once every six months, if not more frequently.

“For conditions like amblyopia or strabismus, early intervention, rehabilitation, or surgical procedures yield the best results,” he said.

To enhance public awareness about eye health, the hospital conducts community outreach initiatives such as offering free or subsidized treatments for cataracts in the elderly and strabismus in children.

On Sunday, children engaged in the one-day eye doctor program, where they received instruction on the fundamentals of conducting a standard eye check and attended a lecture on healthy eye habits. “We periodically provide such complimentary experiences,” said a staff member on site.

In addition to the public Shenzhen Eye Hospital and ophthalmology departments within comprehensive hospitals, multiple private eye hospital chains like AIER, Huaxia, and C-Mer Dennis Lam Eye Hospital have established hospitals and clinics in Shenzhen.

The market for eye care services was valued at 158 billion yuan (US$21.8 billion) in 2022, with indications pointing to continued growth, as indicated in a report released on huaon.com, a Chinese market research platform.

“Presently, eye hospitals and clinics in Shenzhen are predominantly concentrated in Luohu and Futian districts,” Liu Hongshan said, adding that his hospital will offer access to professional eye care for Nanshan and Bao’an residents.

Since launching its first hospital in Chengdu in 2006, the Bright Eye Hospital chain has expanded to encompass 31 hospitals and three outpatient clinics across 22 Chinese cities. An upscale international eye center in Luohu District is slated to open shortly.