Prevalence of Myopia Among Children and Adolescents Aged 5-17: A Cross-Sectional Study in Haishu District, Ningbo City, China.

Aims/Background The rising incidence of myopia in children and adolescents represents a significant global public health concern in the domain of vision health and issues, especially in Asian countries like China. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of myopia among children and adolescents aged 5-17 in Haishu District, Ningbo City, China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using visual acuity data from 95,985 participants collected between July and December 2023. The participants included children and adolescents from senior kindergarten, primary and secondary schools. Results The overall prevalence of myopia was 51.09%, with higher rates in urban (52.71%) than suburban areas (49.18%). Among males, the prevalence was 48.80%, while among females, it was higher at 53.68%. Prevalence rate increased significantly with age, particularly among individuals aged between 8 and 13 years, with girls surpassing boys from age 9. By ages 14-17, the prevalence among girls reached a plateau, while the boys' rates continued to rise. The median spherical equivalent was -2.00 D (right eye) and -1.88 D (left eye). Conclusion The findings highlight the need for targeted, age- and region-specific vision protection measures to address the rising myopia burden among children and adolescents.