Myopia in China
China is the global epicentre of the myopia epidemic. By 2020, an estimated 52.7% of Chinese children were myopic — among the highest paediatric rates globally. By 2050, 80–90% of young adults in major cities are projected to be affected. The mean age of myopia onset has fallen from 10.6 years in 2005 to 7.6 years in 2021, compressing the window for preventive intervention.
The epidemiological picture
China's myopia epidemic is driven by three converging factors: intense academic pressure reducing outdoor time, a genetic predisposition in East Asian populations, and rapid urbanisation. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated progression rates — a 2021 study found axial length growth in Chinese schoolchildren increased by 0.08–0.12mm/year during lockdowns compared to pre-pandemic cohorts, likely due to near-total elimination of outdoor activity.
Prevalence by age group
| Age group | Estimated prevalence | Method | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary school (age 6–12) | 36.7–52% | Non-cycloplegic school survey | BMC Public Health 2022 |
| Middle school (age 12–15) | 60–75% | Non-cycloplegic | National survey 2020 |
| High school (age 15–18) | 81–87% | Non-cycloplegic | BMC Public Health 2022 |
| University students | 85–95% | Mixed methods | Multiple cohorts |
All figures use non-cycloplegic refraction — true cycloplegic prevalence is estimated 10–15pp higher in younger age groups. Urban populations show substantially higher rates than rural.
Treatment patterns in China
China has become a global leader in myopia management adoption. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is widely used, MiSight-equivalent dual-focus soft lenses are available, and low-dose atropine is prescribed by specialist centres. The Chinese government launched national myopia prevention programmes in 2018 requiring schools to monitor student vision. Stellest® (Essilor HALT lens) launched in China in 2021 and rapidly gained adoption given the Essilor clinical trial was conducted in Chinese schoolchildren (Bao et al. 2022).
Calculate axial length percentile for Chinese paediatric patients
Enter age, sex, and axial length. Get percentile vs Tideman 2018 normative data and projected trajectory with and without management.
Open calculator →Pan W et al. Prevalence of myopia and high myopia in China. Lancet Reg Health–West Pac. 2024. doi:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101070
Chen Z et al. Age of myopia onset trends in Chinese children. J Glob Health. 2023.
Bao J et al. Stellest spectacle lens efficacy in Chinese schoolchildren. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022;140(5):472–478. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.0401
BMC Public Health school survey 2022. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22906-x
This page presents published epidemiological data — not primary measurements by MyopiaTracker. Figures carry the uncertainty of their source studies. This page does not constitute medical advice. MyopiaTracker is a decision-support tool — not a diagnostic device.