Health Talk: Is your vision changing without you noticing?

You use your eyes every waking second, but are you taking care of them?

June 6 marks China's National Eye Care Day, an annual campaign aimed at raising public awareness of eye health and preventing vision-related diseases. As vision problems become increasingly common worldwide, experts are calling for greater attention to eye care across all age groups.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 2.2 billion people worldwide live with near or distance vision impairment, and at least one billion of those cases could have been prevented or remain untreated.

In an interview with CGTN's Health Talk, Zou Haidong, vice president of Shanghai General Hospital and director of the Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention & Treatment Center, outlined the major eye health challenges facing different age groups.

For children and adolescents under 18, myopia remains the most significant concern. Among working-age adults, eye strain caused by prolonged screen use has become increasingly common, while presbyopia, traditionally associated with older age, is now appearing in people in their 30s. For those over 60, cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in China.

The ophthalmologist said both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the high prevalence of myopia. East Asian populations are known to have a higher prevalence of myopia-related genes than many Western populations. At the same time, lifestyle changes, including increased screen time, reduced outdoor activity, unhealthy diets and insufficient sleep, have further fueled the problem.

China has monitored myopia rates among students annually since 2018. According to Zou, the prevalence rate was around 51.9% in 2022 and has since declined by approximately one to two percentage points each year. Although China continues to face a significant challenge, its myopia rate remains slightly lower than those of Japan and South Korea.

Among the measures proven effective in reducing myopia risk, outdoor activity stands out. Research shows that children should spend at least 15 minutes outdoors at a time under light conditions of around 2,000 lux for the activity to provide meaningful protection against myopia development.

Zou emphasized that preventing myopia before it develops remains the most effective strategy, as no treatment can completely halt its progression once it begins. He highlighted China's multi-sectoral approach to myopia prevention, involving education, health and sports authorities. In cities such as Shanghai, children are screened at schools, diagnosed through local hospitals and referred to higher-level medical institutions when necessary, creating a coordinated and closed-loop management system.

Technology is also playing a growing role in eye care. Zou led the establishment of China's first Vision Health Intelligent Management Center, which uses AI-powered self-service screening devices to detect more than 20 common eye diseases, including cataracts, glaucoma and retinal disorders, within seconds. By the end of last year, 73 such centers had been established across Shanghai communities.

Looking ahead, Zou said the one habit he most hopes people will change is excessive near-distance screen use. Researchers are exploring technologies that could reduce eye fatigue and potentially lessen the impact of digital devices on vision, offering new possibilities for protecting eye health in an increasingly screen-dependent world.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Director: Guo Meiping

Videographer: Wang Hongyuan

Graphic designer: Liu Shaozhen