Several Common Myopia Myths Many Parents Still Believe

As children return to school, myopia has once again become a major concern for parents. But ophthalmologists and public health authorities say some long-standing beliefs about childhood myopia may lead families to delay proper prevention and treatment.

Here are several common myopia myths that many parents still believe.

Myth 1: “Wearing Glasses Makes Myopia Worse”

Some parents worry that once their child starts wearing glasses, the child will become increasingly dependent on them and the prescription will keep rising.

This is not supported by current medical guidance. Properly prescribed glasses provide clear vision and are an important part of managing myopia. Rising prescription is generally related to the progression of myopia itself, rather than glasses causing the eyes to become more myopic.

Parents should therefore not refuse appropriate glasses simply because a child's prescription is relatively low.

Myth 2: “Myopia Is Caused Only by Phones and Tablets”

Electronic screens can contribute to myopia risk when they are used for long periods at close distances. However, phones and tablets are not the only concern.

Reading, writing, drawing, playing with building blocks and looking at sheet music can also involve prolonged near-distance work. China CDC recently emphasized that long and continuous near work is an important risk factor for childhood myopia.

The issue is therefore not simply whether a child uses a smartphone, but how long the child spends doing close-up visual tasks without adequate breaks.

Myth 3: “A Child Can Reverse Myopia With Eye Exercises or Training Devices”

Some products claim to “restore eyesight” or even reduce true myopia through eye exercises, massage or special training devices.

Health authorities caution parents against such claims. Once true myopia develops, it currently cannot be cured. The goal of management is to slow its progression and reduce the risk of developing high myopia.

A child whose eyesight suddenly becomes blurry should receive a proper eye examination rather than relying on products advertised as myopia cures.

Myth 4: “Children With Mild Myopia Do Not Need Glasses”

Another common belief is that children with only a small prescription can simply go without glasses.

Doctors have warned that delaying appropriate correction can leave children with persistently blurred distance vision and may interfere with normal visual development. The appropriate correction should be determined through professional examination rather than solely by the size of the prescription.

Myth 5: “Staying Indoors and Resting the Eyes Is Enough”

Reducing screen time is useful, but simply keeping children indoors is not an effective myopia-prevention strategy.

China's National Health Commission recommends that children spend at least two hours outdoors during the daytime. Outdoor activity is considered one of the most effective and economical approaches to preventing childhood myopia.

Outdoor time can be divided into several periods, including school breaks, physical education classes, the journey home and outdoor activities after school.

Myth 6: “If a Child Gets Myopia, Laser Surgery Will Fix It Later”

Some parents believe that childhood myopia does not require much attention because laser vision correction can be performed when the child becomes an adult.

Experts say this is an important misunderstanding. Refractive surgery has specific eligibility requirements and is not suitable for everyone. More importantly, preventing severe myopia during childhood remains important because high myopia can be associated with structural problems in the eye that refractive surgery does not simply eliminate.

What Parents Should Actually Do

Experts recommend focusing on several practical habits: increase daytime outdoor activity, reduce prolonged close-distance work, maintain an appropriate reading distance, take regular visual breaks and monitor children's eyesight.

The National Health Commission also recommends the “20-20-20” approach: after 20 minutes of near work, look at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Parents should also watch for warning signs such as children squinting, tilting their heads, moving closer to objects or complaining that they cannot see the blackboard clearly. These symptoms do not automatically mean myopia, but they are reasons to seek a professional eye examination.

For families, the key message is simple: childhood myopia is preventable and controllable to a certain extent, but once true myopia develops, it should not be treated as something that can simply be “cured” later. Early screening, outdoor activity and scientifically guided intervention remain more important than relying on popular myths.