A national study shows children's eyesight has seriously declined in the last 20 years. Education officials are attempting to combat the deterioration by introducing a new take on traditional Chinese eye exercises for pupils.

Every day, school children put down their pens and perform a series of exercises intended to strengthen their eyes.

But the results are not so satisfactory.

Recent tests show that 60 percent of lower middle school students are short-sighted. For upper middle school students that figure rises to 76 percent.

To stop the deterioration, education officials have introduced a new version of eye exercises, based on traditional Chinese medicine techniques.

Students break off from their studies twice a day to perform the exercises.

School medic Dr Shao said, "It is a combination of massage and applying pressure to pressure points, a mixture of sport and medicine, all merged together."

Some say it is working.

Primary school student Li Wenshen said, "It's great. My eyesight was weaker before but now it's better."

Students break off from their studies twice a day to perform the exercises.

But some experts say the traditional therapy should not be the only solution.

Li Xipu, founder of Sekwa Eye Hospital, said, "We try to promote the treatment of myopia by TCM for over 30 years or more. But you see that the prevalence of myopia is still increasing, not decreasing."

Excessive strain on eyes, not genetic inheritance, accounted for 45 percent of the total problem.

And the ultimate solution might be very simple.

Li Xipu said, "Yes, they have to spend less time in the classroom in reading and spend more time outdoors."

Indeed, just go outside and have a "brighter" future.

(CCTV November 27, 2008)