66% of Hong Kong’s 8-year-olds could be short-sighted by 2028, experts warn

More than 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s eight-year-olds could be short-sighted by 2028, optometrists have predicted, citing a shrinking “hyperopic reserve” that normally helps delay nearsightedness.

The Hong Kong Association of Private Practice Optometrists released the findings on Sunday from a study of more than 3,500 pupils at eight primary schools conducted between November and May, urging parents to begin comprehensive eye checks when children turned three.

The association found that 67 per cent of six-year-olds had less hyperopic reserve than the recommended standard of 0.75 dioptres (75 degrees), while 24 per cent were already short-sighted.

Hyperopic reserve refers to the natural longsightedness children have at birth. It gradually diminishes as the eyes grow and acts as a protective buffer against shortsightedness. Children who exhaust this reserve too early face a higher risk of developing myopia.

Citing mainland Chinese research suggesting 62 per cent of children with insufficient hyperopic reserve will become short-sighted within two years, the association projected that 66 per cent of the surveyed children could be myopic by 2028.

“If we do not intervene in time, more than 60 per cent of eight-year-olds could be short-sighted within two years, bringing high myopia and the heavy burden of related eye diseases,” said Queenie Yip Siu-lai, the association’s president and chairman of its task force on children’s eye health policy recommendations.

“This is a crucial opportunity to safeguard the eyesight of Hong Kong’s children.”

A cross-border study in June found the average hyperopic reserve of seven-year-olds in Hong Kong was 78 degrees – well below the European average of 144 degrees and Australia’s 132 degrees.

Benny Tam Bing-tin, vice-chairman of the task force, said a child’s hyperopic reserve could be affected by factors including home size and time spent outdoors.

“Hyperopic reserve is something children are born with and cannot be restored, just as myopia cannot be reversed,” Tam said. “The key is to identify children with insufficient reserve early and intervene in time.”

The association urged parents to start regular comprehensive eye checks from age three to catch problems early. It also advised families to spend more time outdoors, limit screen time, maintain proper reading distance and posture, and ensure children get enough rest.

It called on the government to establish policies to manage children’s shortsightedness and enhance public education.

A separate survey in September, involving 67 association members, found nearly 80 per cent of parents did not have their children’s eyes checked until vision problems arise or screenings fail – suggesting low awareness of the issue.

Seven-year-old Owen failed an eye screening two years ago. His grandmother took him to an optometry clinic, where he was found to be 100 degrees short-sighted in his left eye and 850 degrees in his right.

His condition worsened over the last summer holiday: 125 degrees in the left eye and 1,050 degrees in the right one.

Owen’s grandmother recalled he already had uneven eyes in kindergarten and leaned to the left while writing, but she did not link it to vision problems at the time.

After being prescribed glasses, his grandmother limited his screen time to one to two hours a day and enrolled him in more activities, including running, swimming and badminton. His short-sightedness has since stabilised.