Zero Myopia: How China’s Rural Schools Are Leading the Fight Against Nearsightedness
In the remote mountainous region of southwest China’s Yunnan Province lies Wantang, a rural area where none of the over 500 students at the local boarding school wear glasses. This remarkable achievement of maintaining a zero rate of myopia has sparked curiosity and admiration across the nation.
In a country where 51.9 percent of children and adolescents are nearsighted, according to the latest official statistics, Wantang’s success story offers valuable insights. China is intensifying efforts to address the prevalence of myopia among its youth, aiming to significantly reduce rates by 2030. Targets include keeping myopia rates among six-year-olds around three percent and reducing rates among primary and high school students to below 38 percent and 70 percent, respectively.
Ophthalmologists explain that most people are born with farsightedness, which naturally decreases as they grow—a phenomenon known as the hyperopia reserve. This reserve acts like a savings account for eye health; depleting it too early can lead to the development of myopia.
Research indicates that early depletion of the hyperopia reserve is a key factor contributing to the high rates of myopia among Chinese children aged six to twelve. Monitoring and preserving this reserve has become a central focus of China’s eye health initiatives.
The National Health Commission (NHC) has standardized eye care and vision examinations for children under six, conducting hyperopia reserve tests at 24 months, 36 months, and annually from ages four to six. As of May, the coverage of eye health care and vision examinations for this age group has reached 95.1 percent nationwide.
Parents are also playing a crucial role. On social media platforms, young parents share experiences and tips on protecting their children’s eye health, emphasizing the importance of regular check-ups and healthy eye habits.
Experts highlight that promoting outdoor activities is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to preserve the hyperopia reserve. “To prevent nearsightedness, children should spend at least two hours outdoors each day,” says renowned ophthalmologist Wang Ningli.
The Wantang boarding school embodies this advice by incorporating three hours of outdoor activities into the daily routine. From on-campus playtime and physical education classes to ten-minute breaks between lessons, students are encouraged to be active outside regularly. This approach has not only kept myopia at bay in Wantang but has also inspired other schools. A primary school in the same prefecture saw its myopia rate drop from 42.5 percent to 13.8 percent between 2020 and 2023 after adopting similar practices.
Recognizing the importance of physical activity, the Ministry of Education, along with other departments, issued a directive in March requiring primary and middle schools to allocate a 30-minute daily break for physical activities.
Cities across China are enhancing public spaces to support these initiatives. Urban areas like Guangzhou, Nanning, and Harbin are transforming to become more child-friendly, adding basketball and badminton courts, and community-based children centers. This provides children like Ma Shengce, a primary school student in Guangzhou, with more opportunities to play and stay active. “Now, I can enjoy climbing and sliding right after school, which adds excitement to my daily routine,” Ma shares enthusiastically.
China’s comprehensive approach, involving government policies, school programs, parental involvement, and community support, exemplifies a united effort to safeguard the vision of its younger generations. As these measures take root, the hope is to see a significant decline in myopia rates nationwide, ensuring that children can look toward the future with clear eyes.
Reference(s):
China steps up efforts to protect eye health of young people
cgtn.com
