The International Training Course for Cataract Prevention and Treatment has been organized by the Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Science and Technology of China and hosted by AIER Eye Hospital Group since 2012. This project is the only ophthalmology training program for developing countries hosted by China. To date, nearly 100 students from Pakistan, North Korea, Indonesia, Nigeria and other 21 national institutions have graduated from this three-week training course. The project aims to help developing countries improving their cataracts and blindness prevention and control. It also strives to promote the exchange and cooperation between China and other developing countries in clinical skills, academic research and education, as well as eye care management.

Training and developing specialists is vital for the success of cataract prevention and treatment. AIER has a full-fledged training system which received the award of “outstanding cataract operation training project of Chinese Medical Association” in 2016. This has been the cornerstone for AIER to continuously organize these foreign aid programs.

During each term of the training course, AIER eye hospital group formulates a detailed teaching plan, records video of the operation for teaching, and invites senior experts and professors from all over the country to give lectures. Through a combined mode of classroom teaching, practice, field investigation and discussion, the students are systematically introduced with practical skills, advanced concept of cataract prevention and treatment and blindness screening, as well as knowledge of conventional clinical diagnosis and treatment of cataract.