Pediatrics
META ANALYSIS
● Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis: Myopia prevalence 30.1% in Chinese children/adolescents, peaks at 81.0% in high school
Journal of global health
Published March 30, 2026
Gao Hui, Ma Jiaqi, Liu Zhirong, Wang Jiaqi, Wang Wenjun, Ye Lu
PubMed ↗
DOI ↗
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of myopia, diagnosed by cycloplegic refraction (spherical equivalent ≤-0.50 D), among Chinese children and adolescents. The analysis included population- or school-based studies published between January 2020 and March 2025 that used cycloplegic refraction, identified via searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, CNKI, and Wanfang. The overall pooled prevalence of myopia across 34 studies with 139,765 participants was 30.1%. Subgroup analyses revealed a higher prevalence in females (28.6%) compared to males (26.0%). Prevalence increased markedly with educational stage: 4.2% in kindergarten, 28.4% in primary school, 64.1% in junior high, and 81.0% in high school. Analysis by time period showed the prevalence peaked in 2016 at 57.5%. Geographically, the highest provincial prevalence was observed in Taiwan (66.5%), while the lowest was in Henan (6.6%). At the regional level, Eastern China had the highest prevalence (40.3%), prevalence was close to the national average in Northwestern China (31.2%), and the lowest prevalence was in Central China (6.6%). Publication bias was assessed using Egger's and Begg's tests, though specific results of these tests were not provided in the abstract. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251236626).
If you're a parent in China, your child's vision is a growing concern. A major review of recent studies found that about 30% of Chinese children and adolescents have myopia, or nearsightedness. That means nearly 1 in 3 kids needs glasses or contact lenses to see clearly at a distance.
The problem gets much worse with age and school pressure. In kindergarten, only about 4% of children are nearsighted. That number jumps to over 28% in primary school, then skyrockets to 64% in junior high, and finally to a staggering 81% by high school. Girls are slightly more likely to be affected than boys.
Where a child lives also plays a role. The burden is highest in Eastern China and in Taiwan. Central China has the lowest rates. The review also found that the problem seemed to peak around 2016.
These findings paint a clear picture: nearsightedness is a common childhood condition in China that becomes almost the norm by the teenage years, with significant differences based on where a child lives and goes to school. This information is crucial for planning public health efforts to protect kids' vision.
What this means for you: In China, nearsightedness affects over 80% of high schoolers, showing a vision crisis tied to education.
View Original Abstract ↓
BACKGROUND: There is currently a lack of nationally representative assessments of myopia based on gold-standard cycloplegic refraction among Chinese children and adolescents. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse the prevalence of myopia, diagnosed by cycloplegic refraction (spherical equivalent ≤-0.50 D), among Chinese children and adolescents, and examine its distribution across sexes, age groups, time periods, and geographic regions.
METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, CNKI, and Wanfang for population- or school-based studies published between January 2020 and March 2025 that used cycloplegic refraction. We calculated the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals using a meta-analysis, with subgroup analyses by sex, educational stage, time periods, and regions. We assessed publication bias using Egger's and Begg's tests.
RESULTS: The overall myopia prevalence among 34 studies with 139 765 participants was 30.1%. Prevalence was higher in females (28.6%) than males (26.0%) and increased markedly with education stage from 4.2% in kindergarten, 28.4% in primary school, 64.1% in junior high, and 81.0% in high school. Temporally, prevalence peaked in 2016 (57.5%). Geographically, the highest provincial prevalence was observed in Taiwan (66.5%), while the lowest was identified in Henan (6.6%). At the regional level, Eastern China had the highest prevalence (40.3%), close to the national average in Northwestern China (31.2%), and the lowest in Central China (6.6%).
CONCLUSIONS: The pooled prevalence of myopia among Chinese children and adolescents was 30.1%, with a pronounced increase by educational stage. A slightly higher prevalence was observed in females. Geographically, Eastern China had the highest burden, while Central China had the lowest. These findings highlight marked age, sex, and regional disparities, providing evidence for targeted public health interventions.
REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD420251236626.