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What Percentage of Children and Teens Have Myopia?

Myopia (nearsightedness) is experiencing a global public health epidemic, especially among young people. It is estimated that currently, one in three children worldwide are myopic, with the global prevalence among children and young people estimated to be around 30.5 percent. Forecasts predict that this global prevalence rate will rise significantly, affecting nearly 40 percent of children and adolescents by 2050.

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What Percentage of Children and Teens Have Myopia?

Myopia (nearsightedness) is experiencing a global public health epidemic, especially among young people. It is estimated that currently, one in three children worldwide are myopic, with the global prevalence among children and young people estimated to be around 30.5 percent. Forecasts predict that this global prevalence rate will rise significantly, affecting nearly 40 percent of children and adolescents by 2050.

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What is the Influence of Screen Time on Myopia Progression?

Screen time and intensive near work are strongly associated with higher myopia risk and severity. Research indicates that an additional hour of daily screen time is associated with approximately 21 percent higher odds of having myopia. For those who already have the condition, excessive screen time is linked to higher odds of the prescription worsening rapidly. This risk is linked to the prolonged close focus required by devices, which stresses the eye's focusing muscles and encourages eyeball elongation.

What is the Protective Benefit of Outdoor Time?

Outdoor time provides a significant protective benefit against myopia development. Studies consistently show that children should spend at least two hours a day outdoors to minimize the risk of developing the condition. The exposure to natural bright light, which stimulates dopamine release in the retina, is thought to help slow eyeball elongation, counteracting the effects of prolonged near work. Public health programs promoting outdoor activity have successfully demonstrated a decline in myopia rates among preschoolers.

How Does Geographical Location Affect Myopia Rates?

Geographical location severely affects myopia rates. East Asia currently exhibits the highest prevalence, with rates soaring up to 80-90 percent among high school graduates in some urban areas. Rates are generally higher in urban settings globally due to the lack of outdoor time and the high density of educational demands. The lowest rates of myopia worldwide are typically reported in Africa.

What are the Risks of High Myopia?

The risks of high myopia (a severe prescription of -6.00 diopters or more) are severe, permanent eye conditions. High myopia increases the lifetime risk of sight-threatening diseases such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration later in life.

How are Myopia Progression Rates Managed?

Management involves spectacles, specialized soft contact lenses (designed to slow progression), and low-dose atropine eye drops. Specialized contact lenses and drops aim to slow the progression rate by affecting the peripheral light focus or the signaling pathways in the eye.

FAQs on Childhood Myopia

Is myopia curable?

No, myopia is not curable, but its progression can be significantly slowed with treatment.

Does reading books cause myopia?

Prolonged near work, whether with books or screens, is a risk factor, but the overall time spent outdoors is a stronger protective factor.

At what age does myopia stabilize?

Myopia usually stabilizes in 50-75 percent of children by age 15-18.

When to See Your Doctor

If a child reports difficulty seeing the whiteboard or distant objects, schedule an eye exam immediately. Prompt diagnosis and intervention with specialized myopia control lenses or drops are necessary to slow the progression of the condition and reduce the risk of future eye disease.

References

  • British Journal of Ophthalmology. Global prevalence of myopia in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis (bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2024/09/16/bjo-2024-325685). 2024.
  • The Lancet Public Health. Age-specific prevalence of myopia and high myopia: a global analysis and projection to 2050 (thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00142-1/fulltext). 2025.
  • Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. Digital screen time and myopia risk: Evidence from a longitudinal study (arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2801442). 2025.
  • International Myopia Institute. IMI 2025 Reports and Guidelines on Myopia Control (myopiainstitute.org/imi-reports/). 2025.
  • World Journal of Pediatrics. The impact of outdoor activity and dopamine on myopia prevention: A five-year follow-up (link.springer.com/journal/12519). 2026.