The Multidimensional Impact of Myopia on Quality of Life Among Chinese Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesise current evidence on how myopia affects the quality of life (QoL) of Chinese children and adolescents, with a focus on multidimensional health outcomes, contextual determinants, and intervention strategies.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang Data were searched from inception to 1 January 2025. Eligible studies included myopic Chinese children and adolescents (≤18 years), used validated QoL instruments, and were published in peer-reviewed journals. Two reviewers independently extracted and verified data, and methodological characteristics were summarised narratively.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies involving 157,441 participants across 14 provinces were included. Myopia was consistently associated with reduced QoL across physical, psychological, and social domains, including limitations in vision-dependent activities, visual symptoms, anxiety, and impaired peer and academic functioning. Key determinants included refractive severity, myopia progression, outdoor activity, screen time, socioeconomic status, and parental education. Interventions including orthokeratology and peripheral defocus lenses, as well as increased outdoor time, show potential to improve functional vision and well-being. However, most evidence comes from cross-sectional studies with heterogeneous QoL measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Myopia, particularly high myopia, is consistently associated with a significant reduction in the multidimensional QoL of Chinese children and adolescents across diverse regions. This impact reflects a complex bio-environmental interaction involving both physiological progression and lifestyle constraints, such as prolonged screen time and reduced outdoor activity. Future myopia management should transition from a purely refractive focus to holistic strategies that incorporate lifestyle interventions, psychological support, and enhanced patient adaptation to advanced optical treatments.