In the remote mountainous region of southwest China's Yunnan Province, a rural boarding school in Wantang has achieved an impressive milestone: none of its over 500 students wear glasses. Located in the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, the school has maintained a zero rate of nearsightedness among its students, a remarkable feat in a country where myopia among juveniles is a growing concern for many parents.
Official statistics reveal that 51.9 percent of Chinese children and adolescents currently have nearsightedness, although there has been a slight decline in recent years. To address this issue, China is intensifying its efforts to reduce the prevalence of myopia among young people, setting ambitious targets for 2030. These goals include maintaining the myopia rate among six-year-old children at approximately three percent and keeping the rates for primary, junior high, and high school students below 38 percent, 60 percent, and 70 percent respectively.
Ophthalmologists explain that most children are born with farsightedness, which typically diminishes as they age. This diminishing phase creates what is known as the hyperopia reserve—a critical factor in preventing myopia. Research indicates that the early depletion of this reserve increases the likelihood of developing nearsightedness.
A comparative study involving children from the United Kingdom, the United States, and China highlights that the rapid rise in myopia rates in China is largely due to the early depletion of the hyperopia reserve among children aged six to twelve.
Health authorities are now emphasizing the monitoring of the hyperopia reserve as a key preventive measure against early myopia. The National Health Commission (NHC) has standardized eye care and vision examinations for children under six, scheduling hyperopia reserve checks at 24 months, 36 months, and annually from ages four to six. Currently, 95.1 percent of children under six nationwide receive eye health care and vision examinations, according to Shen Haiping, deputy head of the maternal and child health department of the NHC.
Recognizing nearsightedness as a major public health issue, especially among children and adolescents, the NHC released an updated myopia prevention guideline in early June, six years after its previous edition.
Parents are actively participating in safeguarding their children's eye health. On the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, a search for \"hyperopia reserve\" yields over 70,000 results, with many young parents sharing their experiences and tips for protecting their kids' vision. A mother from Shanghai shared, \"The school organizes regular eye examinations each year and invites ophthalmologists to raise awareness about healthy eye habits.\"
Promoting outdoor activities is also widely recognized as an effective strategy to protect the hyperopia reserve. Renowned ophthalmologist Wang Ningli recommends that children engage in at least two hours of outdoor activities daily to better prevent nearsightedness.
The Wantang boarding school’s success is attributed to its rigorous schedule, which includes three hours of outdoor activities each day. On-campus playtime, physical education classes, 10-minute breaks between classes, and extracurricular activities are integral parts of the school day.
Following Wantang’s example, a primary school in the same prefecture saw its myopia rate drop from 42.5 percent in 2020 to 13.8 percent in 2023.
To ensure adequate outdoor activity time, the Ministry of Education, along with three other departments, issued a circular in March mandating a 30-minute daily break for physical activities in primary and middle schools. Additionally, cities like Guangzhou, Nanning, and Harbin are transforming public spaces to be more child-friendly by building more sports venues and community-based children centers.
Ma Shengce, a primary school student in Guangzhou, expressed her excitement about the new facilities, saying, \"Now, I can enjoy climbing and sliding right after school, which adds excitement to my daily routine.\"
Reference(s):
China steps up efforts to protect eye health of young people
cgtn.com
