this development is particularly acute in countries likike singapapore, south korea, chin, and taiwan. reporter: a dragonon boat racen taipei. an exciting event, especially if you u can tellll who's out in f. yet many here can see about this much -- practically nothing. some 80% of taiwane e childr ke pegeggyre severery shorortsighted by y the time y leleave school.. peggy's mother onlrerealized th when n pey was 1212 years old. she w was constantltly fag behindnd in class tsai: one day she ca homome d codn't r reaanymore.e. the dodoctor told meme that py woululd need an opoperation ii didn't do something ouout it straight awaway. reporter: peggy was about t too blind. then, tragagically, her r fatr died and h her mother cocouldt afford laser eye surge f for her dadaught. and so, from their small flat, peggy's mother began selling insurance policies. she'd then sew until the early hohours of the morning, scrarag together enonough money fofor a treaeatment that's become very popupular in east t asia -- nt lenses. the extrthick coact lens reshape the patient't's cornea while they sleep.