Myopia rate at Primary | falls to 26% from 30% two decades ago

Singapore’s myopia rate for Primary 1 pupils has dropped over the past two decades to around 26 per cent, down from around 30 per cent.

- Yap Wei Qiang Correspondent

Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon said on Oct 8 that the early detection of myopia is critical as it is a key predictor of severe myopia complications later in life. ST FILE PHOTO

(ST FILE PHOTO)

This has met the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) goal of 30 per cent or lower.

Statistics from the board, which has run the National Myopia Prevention Programme since 2001, show that the myopia prevalence rate for Primary 1 pupils was around 30 per cent in the mid-2000s.

But it dropped around 4 percentage points, and has since stabilised at around 26 per cent as at 2023, which is the latest available official figure.

The improvement was shared by Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon on Oct 8 at the Singapore Optometric Association Conference 2025, held at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Convention Centre.

Noting that the age of myopia onset is a key predictor of severe myopia complications later in life, Dr Koh said: “This is why early detection and timely interventions are critical.”

Myopia, or shortsightedness, causes distance vision to be blurred.

Early-onset myopia leads to high myopia and potentially blinding pathologic myopia in adulthood. Children who develop myopia early in life have a higher risk of high myopia as adults.

Under HPB’s myopia prevention programme, children from Kindergarten 1 to Primary 4 are screened annually for myopia.

Those who require early intervention for myopia are referred to HPB’s clinics for further assessments by optometrists or for the management of their conditions.

The board also actively promotes the adoption of good eye habits and participation in outdoor activities, which has been shown to have a positive effect on vision.