More than 450 million people in China suffer from nearsightedness, with younger people getting more affected, the National Health Commission said on Monday. 

Photo: VCG

Thirty percent of primary school students are near-sighted, and about 90 percent for college students, National Health Commission data shows. 

Nearsightedness is primary caused by environment and heredity. To prevent nearsightedness, experts suggest a change in environmental factors. Reading at close range for long periods is considered a major risk factor.

Young people need to shorten the time they spend in from of screens of electronic products, experts said. 

They added that people need to have more outdoor activities to prevent nearsightedness. Various clinical trials show that outdoor activities of two hours a day or ten hours a week can effectively reduce nearsightedness. Parents need to encourage their young children to engage in daytime outdoor activities for the good of their eyesight. 

Different government agencies released a joint notice requiring schools to organize sports activities an hour a day, to assign less homework and shorten reading hours, to regularly monitor eyesight and report on eye health. 

(Compiled by Dong Feng)