Latest data provided by Chinese experts show that 30 million Chinese become nearsighted annually. Nearly 400 million people are myopic but only less than 2 million, or 1 percent of them have received medical treatment.

Investigation on Chinese teenagers conducted in 2002 reflects that primary school pupil's myopia rate was 26.96 percent, junior high students 53.43 percent, and senior high students 72 percent. China News Service reported today that a survey made by the Teenager's Health Research Center of Peking University shows that currently Chinese student's myopia rate ranks second after Japan in the world, from fourth in 1998.

Experts believe certain groups of students are easier to become myopic than others, including students in cities, female students, and students from metropolises or key schools. The reasons of such high myopia rates among Chinese students are probably burdens of studies and pressure of college entrance examinations. They also point out that the current protective measures against myopia are far from effective.

(China News Service July 11, 2006)