Chinese parents' knowledge, attitude, and practice of myopia control: 2023 update

Our previous survey identified a lack of knowledge of myopia among Chinese parents. This research aims to update the characteristics of parents' knowledge, attitude, and practice in myopia control.

A self-administered questionnaire was disseminated to parents of myopic children in 16 hospitals from 11 provinces in China. Comprehensive information regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practice in myopia of parents with myopic children was collected, with the underlying correlations being analyzed.

A total of 1266 valid questionnaires were collected. The concern over children's visual problems arose significantly earlier among myopic parents (P < 0.001). Axial length was recorded by 29.9% (378/1266) of the participants. Parents' primary goal of myopia control was "retarding the progression of myopia" (64.8%, 821/1266). The effectiveness of behavioral intervention was ranked first by 68.4% (866/1266) of the participants. Single-vision spectacles were the most adopted correction practice (26.1%, 331/1266). In terms of myopic interventions, 23.5% (297/1266) of the parents chose myopic control spectacles, followed by orthokeratology (20.9%, 264/1266); 37.3% (189/507) of the participants believed that the latter was more effective. Most parents (69.8%, 883/1266) expressed satisfaction with the current efficacy of myopia control.

Insufficient awareness of myopia and myopia control was identified among parents of myopic children in China. Efforts should be made to enhance parents' knowledge, raise their awareness, and improve the accessibility and affordability of effective myopia control interventions.