A Study of the Present Prevalence of Myopia in Children of School Age in Two Regions of Eastern Inner Mongolia

Abstract

Background: The study was conducted to assess the prevalence of myopia among school-aged children in Xing'an Meng and Hulunbuir from Inner Mongolia, as well as to identify the factors of myopia.

Methods: A total of 25795 students from the Xing'an Meng and Hulunbeier were selected as the research subjects from October to November 2021 using stratified random whole-group sampling. The students underwent visual acuity examination, followed by a survey of myopia-related factors via questionnaire.

Results: The rate of myopia detection was 65.2% in Xing'an Meng and Hulunbeier. The rate of myopia detection was higher in females (70.3%) than that in males (60.2%). The risk of myopia among female students was 1.543 times that of male. The risk of myopia in Mongolian was 0.78 times than that of than Han Chinese students. Middle school, high school, and vocational high school students had a myopia risk that was 2.43 times, 4.168 times, and 1.16 times that of elementary school students, respectively. female, high study level, reading and writing with eyes less than one foot (33 cm) from the book, using mobile electronic devices for more than an average of 0.5 hours per day, reading or looking at electronic displays in sunlight, reading or looking at electronic displays while lying on one's back or lying down, and having myopic parents were risk factors for myopia. Living in a suburban county, being of Mongolian descent, and spending recess outside were protective factors against myopia.

Conclusion: Gender, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits were related to myopia in children of school age. Maintaining good reading habits and engaging in outdoor activities were effective approaches to prevent myopia