On September 27, 2025, with the approval and guidance of the Hainan Provincial Health Commission, the Zhongshan Eye Center of Sun Yat-sen University and the Administrative Bureau of Boao Lecheng (Hope City) International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone formally signed a framework agreement, and set in motion preparations for the creation of the Hainan International Eye Hospital. This result of the deep integration of the country's top ophthalmology institution and the national free trade port strategy expects to start trial operations by the end of 2025.

The "Visionary Promise" between Hainan and Zhongshan Eye Center has existed for decades. Back in the 1980s, center professors Chen Yaozhen and Mao Wenshu went to Hainan’s Li ethnic minority areas to carry out eye disease screening. Fast forward to 2012, the combined efforts of the center and the provincial health commission to establish the Hainan Eye Hospital and set up a professional corps of eye doctors and local people suffering from various eye and vision related ailments diseases no longer needed to either leave the island or wait for visiting specialists in order to receive necessary treatment. Now, with the planned establishment of the International Eye Hospital, Hainan is fully grasping the opportunities brought by the accelerating construction of the free trade port and the special policy allowing Hope City to locally trial international pharmaceuticals and medical devices that have not yet been approved for use in the rest of China. Proactively connecting with top medical resources to promote the rapid implementation of internationally advanced ophthalmic equipment and drugs marks the beginning of an era where people from the mainland will come to Hainan for the treatment of serious eye diseases.

In terms of hospital construction and services, the Hainan International Eye Hospital will focus on a few core areas. Medical innovation: establish an international diagnosis and treatment center for complicated eye diseases, promote accurate and personalized diagnosis and treatment. Scientific research cooperation: build an international ophthalmology research platform, attract global teams to jointly tackle key problems. Cultivation of talented individuals, establish an international training center, find and foster a corps of internationally visionary professionals. Service model, create a "one-stop" diagnosis and treatment system that provides efficient service throughout the whole process. Furthermore—by jointly conducting multi-center clinical trials and holding international academic seminars—it is hoped that the Hainan International Eye Hospital will become an important hub for international ophthalmology academic exchanges that promotes the collision of domestic and international ophthalmic technologies and concepts. In terms of public welfare, the hospital plans to continue the fine tradition of Zhongshan Eye Center and will not only help protect the eye health of people living in Hainan but will also cooperate with less developed neighbors to carry out projects such as eye disease screening and basic ophthalmologist training.

As the ongoing situation of free trade port construction is expected to attract more international high-quality medical resources, Hainan's creation of a world-class opthalmology hospital will allow the province to continue to adhere to the concept of being focused on people's health and the needs of the people, while also propelling the local medical and health industry towards greater quality, and a greater degree of internationalization. With advanced ophthalmic diagnosis and treatment technologies and concepts, the hospital will also help improve regional-level eye health service and should rapidly become a key selling point for promoting the FTP to Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. As the Hainan International Eye Hospital grows to become an important window to showcase China’s medical strength and achievements in international cooperation, the hospital’s primary goal will be to “serve the country with strength of vision.” Based in Hainan, radiating to Southeast Asia and serving the world, this future benchmark for the medical opening of the Hainan Free Trade Port is an "international calling card" for Chinese ophthalmology, the Hainan International Eye Hospital will work to improve regional eye health and build a healthy Hainan!