CALAMBA, Laguna – LPU St. Cabrini School of Health Sciences, Inc., and Asian Eye Institute have strengthened its strategic partnership to enhance LPU’s optometry program and develop graduates that have more clinical experience to respond to the needs of modern optical practice.
In the Philippines, a 2018 Philippine National Blindness Survey and Eye Disease Study conducted by the Philippine Eye Research Institute of the National Institute for Health noted that there is an estimated 400,000 Filipinos with uncorrected errors of refraction (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism), and over 4 million Filipinos living with undiagnosed eye problems that need to be addressed. If left untreated, these eye problems can lead to vision impairment or blindness that will impact quality of life.
According to Dr. Brigido L. Carandang Jr., Chief Academic Officer of LPU-SC, the partnership aligns the institution’s commitment to provide globally-competitive learners to industries. He shared, “Through its world-class eye care expertise, Asian Eye Institute is the right partner to achieve this vision. This collaboration has innovated the Optometry Program, providing future optometrists with more practice-focused and hands-on learning.”
Dr. Jasmin Grace de Leon- Salcedo shared, “It takes a collective effort to mold optometry students to globally-competitive professionals. Through this collaboration, we can deliver a mode of learning that can translate their theories into practice, create an environment that is close to real world optometric practice, and support their needs from classroom to board examinations.
Meanwhile, Asian Eye President Mr. Joaquin E. Quintos IV noted that despite the pandemic, LPU-SC’s enrollment in the Optometry program grew. “This indicates that there is increasing interest in the program. We, at Asian Eye Institute, believe that we can provide the technical assistance to build a program that will develop Optometry graduates with skills that will be valuable in their clinical practice.”
At present, Asian Eye welcomes clinical interns from different schools to hone not only their expertise, but also their interpersonal skills in handling patients through rotations within its clinical network.
In time, Asian Eye hopes to implement an Optometry Program that is designed to allow students to become job-ready at every stage of their education. This will offer students greater flexibility to start their careers in the optical field. By their 2nd year, students will already be equipped to become opticians who can confidently handle frame and lens adjustments for a variety of materials. By the end of their 6th year, the full-fledged optometrists will have sufficient clinical experience to enter practice and even participate in clinical research. The program currently has 41 students, with the inaugural batch now in their 5th year. It will produce its first set of graduates in 2025.
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About LPU-SC
The joint venture of LPU and St. Frances Cabrini Medical center was formed in April 2002, it aimed to leverage on their collective expertise and resources to provide quality and industry-driven education in the field of allied medicine. This endeavor brought forth the establishment of LPU-St. Cabrini. It started with the initial offering of BS Nursing, BS Radiologic Technology, BS Medical Technology, and BS Pharmacy programs. In 2018, LPU-SC offered the College of Optometry and College of Medicine to accommodate aspiring optometrists and medical doctors.
About Asian Eye Institute
Asian Eye Institute is a world-class eye center and research institute with clinics in Phinma Plaza, Rockwell Center, Makati; Trinoma, Quezon City; Mall of Asia, Pasay City; Commercenter Alabang, Muntinlupa City; and a Vision Center in Powerplant Mall Makati. Over the years, Asian Eye has been training clinical interns and equipping them with knowledge, skills and patient care. In 2018, it launched Optometry Fellowship Programs in Low Vision, Contact Lens, and Pediatric Optometry and Orthoptics.
