National Sight Day: Safeguarding vision with technology in China

June 6 marks the 30th National Sight Day in China, with the 2025 theme focusing on "Universal Eye Health." This theme highlights China's ongoing efforts to tackle eye diseases and improve public awareness of eye care.

According to information released at the 7th National Ophthalmology Pujiang Forum in December 2024, China has the largest number of patients with eye diseases in the world. The combined number of patients with myopia, dry eye syndrome and cataracts exceeds 1 billion, and the prevalence of myopia among minors is as high as 54 percent.

Eye health is a vital component of individual well-being and a crucial aspect of public health. As the last year of China's 14th Five-Year National Eye Health Plan (2021–2025) approaches, technological innovation, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), has become a key driver in advancing eye disease prevention and treatment.

In November 2024, China's National Health Commission issued the "Reference Guidelines for AI Application Scenarios in the Health Sector," promoting the integration of AI in healthcare. Intelligent medical consultations and AI-assisted triage are highlighted as core applications. In ophthalmology, AI is moving beyond diagnostic support toward full-process clinical services.

A flagship example is the "CC-Cruiser" system, an AI-powered cloud platform for cataract diagnosis and treatment developed by Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University. The system uses image recognition and clinical pathway models to accurately assess cataract severity and provide tailored treatment recommendations, supporting remote care in grassroots hospitals.

In pediatric eye care, Shanghai has implemented an AI-assisted screening and management system for common childhood eye diseases. Covering tens of thousands of children, this system enables early detection and intervention for refractive errors, strabismus and amblyopia. AI aids in interpreting screening results, facilitating real-time data sharing and personalized treatment guidance, greatly enhancing efficiency and precision.