Degree of Myopia and Reduced Physical Activity in 3600 College Students in China

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the degree of myopia and reduced physical activity in 3600 college students in China between 2018 and 2020. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study included 3600 participants (1742 men and 1858 women) aged 19 to 23 years from a Chinese college. The distribution of the levels of eyesight associated with physical exercise was assessed using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart measurement method. RESULTS: The rates of myopia of students enrolled students in 2018, 2019, and 2020 were 84.31%, 87.22%, and 89.17%, respectively, which showed an increasing trend (P<0.01). For the students starting in 2018, the rate of myopia showed an upward trend in their 3 years of college (P<0.01). The incidence of myopia was significantly different during the academic year between students who participated and did not participate in sports clubs (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study showed that between 2018 and 2020 there was a high prevalence of myopia in college students in China, which increased annually and was associated with reduced physical activity while at college. These findings may have public health implications for improving physical activity in this population. Physical exercise could effectively prevent the occurrence of myopia, improve the visual status of students, and alleviate the decline of vision.