A research program on China's cataract situation was launched Saturday — the 25th National Eye Care Day — aiming at comprehensively reviewing the current status of domestic cataract recognition, and diagnosis and treatment, to help protect and improve the national eye health level.

The program, launched by the China Primary Health Care Foundation and supported by Johnson & Johnson Vision, a unit under American healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson, corresponds to this year's theme of National Eye Care Day — Connected by Sight. The theme encourages the public to pay attention to general eye health.

Data from the ophthalmology branch of the Chinese Medical Association showed that currently, the cataract morbidity of Chinese people aged between 60 and 89 was 80 percent, while that for those aged 90 years old and above was 90 percent.

"Due to improper eye habits, the age of onset of cataract has also shown a younger trend in recent years. Without timely treatment, cataracts not only cause blindness, but also bring a series of other diseases, such as glaucoma," said Yao Ke, chairman of the committee of the ophthalmology branch of CMA. 

Many patients delay the best treatment period because of the fear of surgery. Therefore, more importance should be attached to diagnosis, he added.

Zhang Wenhong, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital under Fudan University, said that as the pandemic goes on, we need to stay alert and get accustomed to normal epidemic prevention and control in the coming one to two years.

"During the epidemic, the public spends longer time on phones and computers, and gets excessive eye fatigue. We should pay attention and protect our eyes," he said.

"Leveraging the theme 'Connected by Sight', we were able to demonstrate Johnson & Johnson Vision's commitment towards helping to connect the world during this unique COVID-19 period, and its leadership in enhancing awareness and access for quality eye health care, in support of the Healthy China 2030 mandate," said Wang Liping, general manager of Johnson & Johnson Vision China.