28th May 2023 – (Beijing) A recent report titled “White Paper on National Prevention and Control of Myopia Among Children and Adolescents” reveals that the overall prevalence of myopia among Chinese students in primary and secondary schools has reached 64.85 percent. The report was jointly released by China Charities Aid Foundation for Children and Huaxia Eye Hospital Group at a forum, and draws on data collected from 2019 to 2021 covering 4,027 full-time primary and middle schools across 51 cities in 19 provinces, involving more than 4.55 million students.
The study reveals that the prevalence of myopia is 54 percent among primary school students, 78.18 percent among middle school students, and 87.05 percent among high school students. The research also indicates a higher prevalence of myopia in girls than boys, with the right eye being more affected than the left.
Hu Qinrui, one of the lead researchers and a postdoctoral fellow at Peking University, stressed the importance of promoting healthy eye habits among students, such as reducing the time spent on electronic devices and encouraging outdoor activities, as part of a comprehensive approach to preventing myopia.