{
  "id": 1293513,
  "title": "23 students to undergo eye misalignment surgery at HPUSM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/23-students-to-undergo-eye-misalignment-surgery-at-hpusm",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-16T15:26:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/08/1512590/23-students-undergo-eye-misalignment-surgery-hpusm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over five days, 23 students aged between seven and 19 will undergo eye misalignment surgery at Universiti Sains Malaysia Specialist Hospital (HPUSM), reducing the waiting period from months to years. The surgeries are part of the second Strabismus Surgery Carnival, running from Aug 1 to Aug 20. HPUSM director Datuk Dr Ab Rahman Izani Ghani explained that the students were identified through the HPUSM's Short-sightedness and Strabismus Eye Intervention Programme, which screened schools in Kelantan over three years. Approximately 300 students were identified with eye problems, including strabismus, and 23 will receive surgery during the carnival. The Kampar Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, along with several non-governmental organisations, funded the procedures. Professor Dr Shatriah Ismail, a paediatric ophthalmology consultant at USM School of Medical Sciences, emphasized that strabismus is not just a cosmetic issue but can impact visual function, eye coordination, psychological development, self-confidence, and daily life adaptability.",
  "summary": "KOTA BARU: Twenty-three students aged between seven and 19 will undergo surgery for strabismus, or eye misalignment, at Universiti Sains Malaysia Specialist Hospital (HPUSM) over five days, helping to reduce a waiting period that could previously stretch from several months to years.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}