In recent years, myopia has become a highly prevalent disease worldwide.

China has a high prevalence of myopia, especially among children and adolescents. The onset of myopia occurs at an earlier age, myopia progresses rapidly, and the total number of people with high myopia continues to rise, making it a major public health and social concern. In 2018, the Chinese government elevated the control of myopia to a national strategy, issuing the Implementation Plan for the Comprehensive Myopia Control among Children and Adolescents to support large-scale myopia prevention and control initiatives at the national level.

Wenzhou Medical University (WMU) serves as the host institution for the Engineering Research Center for Myopia Control under the Ministry of Education. Boasting a high-quality ophthalmology and optometry system covering the Eye Hospital, scientific research and talent training, the university is home to a State Key Laboratory and a National Clinical Research Center. It leads China in the integrated development of optometric medicine, education and research, and contributes Chinese expertise to global ophthalmology and optometry.

The Eye team of WMU, in collaboration with Zhihuishu.com, has launched an online course on myopia control. This course aims to disseminate knowledge of myopia control to clinicians, medical students and eyecare professionals, promote clinical standards for myopia diagnosis and management, and cultivate high-caliber eye health professionals for screening, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of myopia in children and adolescents.

Led by Professor Lü Fan as the primary lecturer, the course features joint instruction from Professors Qu Jia, Zhou Xiangtian, Mao Xinjie, Jiang Jun, Xu Liangde, Tu Changsen, Hu Liang and Huang Xiaoming. The faculty interpret China’s myopia control strategy from a professional perspective, and elaborate on the core issues of myopia, practical strategies for its prevention and treatment, its systematic links to children’s holistic physical and mental development, as well as the vital role of families, children and all sectors of society in myopia control.