China-made lenses restore sight in overseas markets

Zhongguancun is supporting the improvement of people's lives and health in countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative with its front-line technologies.

Inside the labs and factories of the Beijing-based innovation center, some 150,000 pieces of foldable, soft intraocular lenses are produced every year.

"With the innovative intraocular lens, the implementation procedure can be shortened to a couple of minutes rather than hours as in the past.

"The lenses costs 30 percent to 50 percent less than the old ones," said Guo Yi, director of corporate development at Eyebright Medical Technology.

"The imported lenses cost 20,000 to 30,000 yuan ($4,347.8) per pair, but now we are the only company that owns such technology in China, we will no longer rely on imports and we can lower the price," he added.

Currently the company's market share in China has reached 10 percent and the number keeps growing year-on-year.

The company has never hesitated in sharing its technology with other countries.

Guo said its products have already been used in China's medical assistance to less developed countries.

Late last year, amid the national call of the Belt and Road Initiative, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an international medical assistance trip to Sir Lanka to promote eye and vision health, with the lenses provided by Eyebright.

Zhong Yong, a doctor from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said: "As a Chinese doctor, we would wish our products were made in China.

"It shows China's medical development and makes Chinese medical teams proud of themselves."

The products have also been used in medical assistance to Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Guo said the lenses have ended the long-term situation that Chinese medical assistance groups had to use imported products.

The company is expecting to make a hit in the European market next.

"We were very progressive in expanding into the foreign market last year," Guo said.

"And we have received orders from Germany and South Korea."

(China Daily 05/14/2017 page28)