On November 16, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC) of Sun Yat-sen University and China Southern Airlines launched the eye care-themed flight at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Terminal 2.

In the afternoon, flight CZ6802 took off from the airport. It was the first themed flight from Guangzhou to Kashgar. Two doctors from ZOC were also on the plane.

(Photo provided to GDToday)

After the plane took off and reached a stable altitude, the cabin turned into an aerial eye care class. Two doctors gave a lecture on eye health care, and passengers on board wore special glasses that could simulate the experience of different eye diseases and the resulting inconveniences.

Located on the Pamir Plateau, Kashgar is an area with a higher incidence of eye diseases such as cataracts due to its high altitude, strong ultraviolet rays and long hours of sunshine. Via simulated experiences and interactions, passengers can have a deeper knowledge and understanding of the eyes.

In August 2023, ZOC, together with the support of Guangdong province, launched the cataract screening and prevention program in Xinjiang. Moreover, the "5G Intelligent Eye Patrol Vehicle", independently developed by ZOC, was driven into Kashgar to provide free eye disease screening and surgery for local residents, as well as officers and soldiers stationed at the border.

As of November 15, more than 6,000 people have been screened for cataracts, and 910 cases of free cataract surgery have been completed.

(Photo provided to GDToday)

Also, in August this year, China Southern Airlines opened a direct route from Guangzhou to Kashgar. In the past, it took 12 days and 8,500 kilometers for vehicles to reach Kashgar. However, it only takes six and a half hours to get there via the direct flight route, which better links Xinjiang with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and provides strong support for the high-quality development of the local area.

Lin Haotian, Director of ZOC, said that in the future, ZOC will explore the possibility of flying eye hospitals, so as to send high-quality medical resources to the border areas of China at a faster speed.

Link to the report: https://www.newsgd.com/node_99363c4f3b/d858a3995f.shtml