Chinese Parents' Perspective on Myopia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

The prevalence of myopia in young generations has dramatically increased over the years, especially in China. This study aims to understand Chinese parents' perspectives on myopia for further improvement of treatment compliance and informing future health planning and policy.

This was a prospective cross-sectional survey study. A self-administrated, internet-based questionnaire was distributed to 2545 parents in China. Detailed information about the demographics, the awareness of myopia, related complications, and practices of myopia prevention and control of the respondents were collected. The distribution of answers was compared among different groups of children's age, children's refractions, and parents' residential locations. Relationships between parental cognition and behavior were also analyzed.

Eligible responses were returned by 2500 parents. A total of 55.1% of the respondents considered myopia as a disease and more than 70% of respondents did not realize pathological changes related to myopia. Most parents thought myopia could be prevented (82.0%) and controlled (75.2%), and these parents were more likely to take measures than the parents who did not think so (P < 0.001). The most common myopia control modality was spectacles (87.0%), among which single-vision spectacles are the most used (63.7%).

Knowledge about health risks related to myopia was lacking in Chinese parents and their practices of myopia control mainly involved single-vision glasses. Nationwide education for parents about myopia is needed to further advance outcomes of myopia prevention and control.