short-sighted middle school students

[v0031]

Here 18 out of 38 students are short-sighted. What about it in the USA?

[morgieb]

18/38 students are short-sighted?

Wow.

Numbers are way smaller here. And unlike 70% of the forum, my vision is perfec.

[Lief 🗽]

According to Wikipedia, 77% of Chinese high schoolers are short-sighted and over 80% of Chinese college students are.

[Antonio the Sixth]

How do you define short-sighted?

[v0031]

with glasses.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

There are reasons to wear glasses other than being short-sighted.

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

Strangely enough, I'm short-sighted, but just on my left eye, my right eye has perfect vision.

There are reasons to wear glasses other than being short-sighted.

^ That ^, and there's also something known as contact lences, so not all short-sighted people wear glasses. At least not in the Western world. 

[dead0man]

Ok, I've give a light Googleing to the idea that Chinese people (or east Asians in general) have bad eye sight and I'm not getting good answers.  Mostly it's people accusing the guy/gal asking the question of racism.

Any ideas.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

First off, since this is American forum, the term is nearsighted (save when referring to politicians ).

Here are some links to some interesting articles on the subject:
Time
CNN
New Scientist

Based on the available evidence it appears genetics is at most a minor factor.  It's being inside studying and reading while growing up that appears to be cause, with the culprit being inside rather than the actual studying.  So if at all feasible, study outside where the sun can do its thing.

[opebo]

Too much reading, not enough outdoor light ('sunlight') during youth.

[v0031]

too much homework and screen time.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Opebo makes a good point.  Playing outdoors in natural sunlight is good for you in nearly every aspect (including vision).

Not that you can actually enjoy natural sunlight anywhere near any major Chinese city.  You can enjoy blackened snot and a distinct burning sensation in your throat and nose if you don't wear a dust mask though!