In the rolling hills of Yunnan Province, a rural boarding school in Wantang has achieved something extraordinary: none of its 500+ students wear glasses. This success story comes as China intensifies efforts to tackle rising childhood myopia—a pressing issue where over half of Chinese youth currently experience nearsightedness.
Experts point to the ‘hyperopia reserve’—a natural farsightedness buffer kids are born with—as critical to preventing myopia. Imagine it like a savings account: once depleted, it’s gone. ‘Early loss of this reserve is driving China’s high rates,’ says research comparing data from the UK, US, and China.
Authorities are now prioritizing eye exams for children under six, with coverage already at 95.1% nationwide. ‘We’re standardizing screenings at key growth stages,’ explains Shen Haiping of the National Health Commission. Schools like Wantang’s prove the power of 3+ hours of daily outdoor play, which slashed myopia rates at a nearby school from 42.5% to 13.8% in three years.
Parents are joining the movement too. On Xiaohongshu, hashtags like #HyperopiaReserve have gone viral, with families sharing eye-care tips. ‘School workshops taught me how to protect my child’s vision,’ says Shanghai mom Liu.
Cities like Guangzhou are building more parks and courts to boost outdoor time, while new policies mandate 30-minute activity breaks in schools. As student Ma Shengque in Guangzhou raves: ‘Now I climb and play right after class—it’s awesome!’
Reference(s):
China steps up efforts to protect eye health of young people
cgtn.com