Tianjin Medical University acts to prevent and control juvenile myopia

Ophthalmic experts and medical students from Tianjin Medical University are working to protect children and adolescents from a widespread eye disease.

Last year, the university established the Tianjin Vision Health Management Center (TVHMC) under the leadership of the university president and expert professor Yan Hua.

During the year, Yan has teamed up with doctors and experts of myopia prevention and control to launch eye protection lectures in schools, communities and families.

Yan emphasizes all students should pay attention to the prevention and control of myopic exacerbation for the cause of class online during pandemic of COVID-19.

The preventative knowledge is expected to be significant considering the prevalence of myopia in China among children and adolescents.

It is reported that in 2018 more than half of them were myopic.

To help more people, the university also opened an official public WeChat account that disseminates eye protection knowledge and tips and has benefitted about 1.2 million school students and their parents.

A citywide children and adolescents eye health screening platform has been created, with screening standards formulated. At present, electronic vision health files for more than 200,000 school students have been established.

During the COVID-19 prevention and control period, TVHMC published eye health guidelines for primary and secondary school students. And a video about eye protection guidance was presented.

In addition, an online questionnaire about eye health by the center was attended by more than 500,000 children.

In order to prevent and control myopia among children and adolescents, the Ministry of Education together with eight other government departments has rolled out 30 regulations to reduce study burden and eye overuse. Students are encouraged to take part in one-hour of sports activities in school, and 1-2 hours of outdoor activities after school every day. Meanwhile, ophthalmic centers and research are hot subjects in colleges and universities.