The startup story of Nguyễn Thị Lệ, a YUP student, and her children's eye-care project ‘Mắt Sáng Việt Nam’—Bright Eyes Vietnam—created to benefit the community. Published on VietnamBiz.
FEMALE POLYTECHNIC ENGINEER STARTS A BUSINESS AT 34 TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S EYES
After 12 years as an employee, Nguyễn Thị Lệ started a business at 34 with a children’s eye care project called “Mắt sáng Việt Nam” to benefit the community.
 |
| Born in 1982, Nguyễn Thị Lệ grew up in Kim Bảng, Hà Nam Province. After high school, she studied at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, earning 2 degrees: Biomedical Electronics in the Electronics and Telecommunications faculty, and Business Administration. After graduation, she worked in medical equipment from 2005 through 2016—a long period of stable employment and good income. |
 |
| After 12 years as an employee, she decided to start a business to gain freedom over her time and leave a legacy for future generations. In April 2016, she launched a children’s eye care project called “Mắt sáng Việt Nam.” The project targets 3 main groups: preschool, primary, and lower secondary school children. |
 |
| The project’s first goal is to educate parents and students about refractive errors and eye care and protection. |
 |
| Project specialists screen students for refractive errors at school using a Vision Screener, at a cost of VND 50,000 per child, to promptly detect nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and many other issues. This helps parents understand their children's condition and arrange timely care, protection, examinations, and treatment, saving parents time, effort, and money. |
 |
| “Bright Eyes Vietnam” connects with reputable healthcare providers that examine and treat refractive errors in children, including Vietnam–Japan Eye Hospital, Branch 2 of Hanoi Eye Hospital, and Việt Tín Eyewear, to secure support, especially for poor households and families covered by social policies. |
 |
| The project will build a website system and specialized software to manage refractive errors among schoolchildren, connecting parents and doctors to work together in caring for children's eyes. |
 |
| Vision Screener – the device healthcare workers use to screen students for refractive errors in the “Bright Eyes Vietnam” project. |
 |
| After 2 years, “Mắt sáng Việt Nam” had screened students’ eyes at more than 400 schools in provinces and cities including Hà Nội, Vĩnh Phúc, Thái Nguyên, and Bắc Giang. Lệ will soon bring the program to Hà Nam province. |
 |
| The project's healthcare workers have served over 50,000 students and detected more than 8,000 children with refractive errors. |
 |
| Thanks to Lệ’s project, parents do not spend time taking their children to appointments and waiting, an important benefit for busy people. They also save on fuel, parking and other costs. Eye examinations at healthcare facilities range from 70,000 to 200,000 dong, above the 50,000-dong fee charged by ‘Mắt sáng Việt Nam.’ |
 |
| Besides eye examinations for children, the “Bright Eyes Vietnam” project provides eye screening for adults who need it. |
 |
| Through the “Bright Eyes Vietnam” project, Ms. Lệ benefits students, parents, and schools while helping raise awareness of children's eye protection and strengthening the reputation of medical facilities partnered with the project. “For every 10 dong in value I bring customers, I ask for only 1 dong in payment,” she confided. |
Chương trình liên quan tại YUP Education: X-Startup – khóa học khởi nghiệp «Khởi Chánh Nghiệp» · The Journey – lộ trình phát triển doanh nhân
