A primary school student gets a vision test in Handan, Hebei province, during the summer holiday in 2020. (HAO QUNYING / FOR CHINA DAILY)

XIAMEN - The overall prevalence of myopia among Chinese students in primary and secondary schools has reached 64.85 percent, according to a report released on Saturday.

Titled "White Paper on National Prevention and Control of Myopia Among Children and Adolescents," the report was jointly released by China Charities Aid Foundation for Children and Huaxia Eye Hospital Group at a forum.

The study 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 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 findings reveal 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.

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Hu Qinrui, one of the lead researchers and a postdoctoral fellow at Peking University, emphasized 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.