German eye-doctor: Sunlight is key to healthy eyes

Jørn S. Jørgensen

While most people think that spending too much time reading books or looking at screens from a close distance is the main reason for nearsightedness, Jørn S. Jørgensen, founder, CEO and medical director of EuroEyes Eye Clinic Group, told the Shenzhen Daily that a lack of natural sunlight is the main factor.

“Chinese school children need to work much harder than European school children. They sit indoors all day. They don’t go out. When you are sitting indoors reading on WeChat, your eyes don’t get daylight, and it seems like the eye grows longer and then it’s nearsightedness,” explained Jørgensen, adding that the best way to protect kids’ eyes is to send them outdoors for exercise, such as playing football.

Jørgensen said that in Asia nearsightedness is very common, with around 80 percent of high school students being affected, while in Europe the number is only 35 percent.

According to the latest report from the World Health Organization, the rate of nearsightedness in high school students and college students in China exceeds 70 percent. China ranks first in terms of its nearsightedness rate among youth.

In May 2017, Jørgensen opened the EuroEyes clinic in Shenzhen, the fourth countrywide. “I think Shenzhen is a young city, an open city, a growing city and a beautiful city. It’s very good for our German company to grow here. There are a lot of people with nearsightedness. Many people have eye problems. So we find it a good place to be.”

Jørgensen is the one who carried out the first presbyopia surgery in China two or three years ago. On May 19, the opening day of the Shenzhen clinic, he also performed the first presbyopia surgery in the city.

“I carried out the first presbyopia surgery in China. We carried it out in Shanghai. The lens was certified and approved by the government two years ago. Sometimes we have a little good advantage because many things were approved at an earlier time in Europe. So we have had experiences with these devices for a long time,” said Jørgensen.

Enjoying a history of over 20 years, the company decided to open their clinics in China due to the demand from Chinese patients. “We have so many Chinese patients in Germany coming to us. They find us on our website. Then I decided they don’t need to come to us. We go to them,” said Jørgensen.

A number of celebrities have also received eye treatment at their clinics, including renowned Chinese composer and conductor, Tan Dun, and the mother of Chinese actress Zhang Xinyi.