Over half of local primary and middle school students have myopia

As much as 57 percent of primary and middle school students are short sighted, according to Shanghai Health Commission.

Around 47 percent of primary school students, close to 77 percent of middle school students and almost 90 percent of high school students have some degree of myopia.

So high are these numbers that the central government issued a children and youth myopia control plan in late August, which plans to reduce myopia incidence to under 38 percent for primary school students, 60 percent for secondary school students and 70 percent of high school students.

The city government has worked on myopia prevention and control by renovating lighting and desk and chairs in classrooms, setting up eye health record for each child and prolonging outdoor activity.