About 5 million Vietnamese school-age children have refractive vision problems

The figure, based on 2024 data, accounts for 30-40 percent of Vietnamese children in this age group. 

Myopia is the most common condition, the center said, warning that untreated vision issues can affect learning and overall development.

HCDC attributed the rise in refractive errors to several factors, including genetics, poor study environments, and prolonged use of electronic devices.

Data from the Vietnam Ophthalmological Society (VOS) show that in 2024, refractive error rates in large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City might exceed 50 percent among schoolchildren.

A survey by the Central Eye Hospital found that in some Hanoi classrooms, 51 percent of the students had refractive errors, including 37.5 percent with myopia, 8.2 percent with hyperopia, and 5.3 percent with astigmatism. 

In Ho Chi Minh City, the rate reached 75.6 percent, with 52.7 percent of students diagnosed with myopia.

The VOS added that two to four percent of children have strabismus, which, if left untreated, can result in amblyopia or ‘lazy eye.'

The World Health Organization predicts that by 2050, half of the global population could develop myopia.

HCDC urged parents to watch for warning signs such as squinting, tilting the head to see distant objects, sitting too close to screens, leaning forward when reading or writing, frequent eye strain or headaches, and mistakes in schoolwork. 

It noted that many children may not recognize or report vision problems, delaying diagnosis and increasing the risk of worsening myopia.