Rural difficulties

Xu Yanan was excited to put on a pair of glasses, which give her clear vision, but her father was not so happy, saying that nobody in the family had ever worn spectacles before.

In some rural regions, glasses are still being refused. Yang said, "Some parents think their children aren't gifted academically and are doomed to become farm workers. They tend to believe that people without glasses have the appearance of qualified laborers."

Other parents may tell their children to wait and decide whether they need glasses if their myopia worsens, or after they start middle school, Yang added.

She said many parents in rural areas are unaware that vision deficit poses severe problems for children if measures are not taken to correct it.

"Research has shown that improved vision has more influence on children's studies than family income and parents' education levels. However, many adults are still under the misapprehension that after minors wear glasses, their myopia will deteriorate more rapidly," Yang said.

Moreover, many children are being cared for by their grandparents, who have a lower awareness of eye health.

Yang Chen, a teacher at Suanyuan Primary School in Yaoguan town, Shidian, said about two-thirds of the students' parents work in cities far from home.

"Usually, grandparents don't control the amount of time children spend on digital products. Financial difficulty also makes it harder for them to afford eyeglasses," she said.

A long-term solution to help children is to set up optometry clinics in local hospitals, with some medical workers functioning as optometrists after training, Yang Jin said.

Six such clinics have been put into operation in counties in Yunnan to allow people to access eye examinations by professionals. Discussions have also taken place with the authorities for a clinic to be built in Shidian.

Yang Jin said eye checkup and eyeglass service packages costing no more than 100 yuan ($16) are available for children from rural families. Children from impoverished backgrounds can obtain glasses for free.

In addition, at least one teacher in each of the 1,000 schools reached by the charity has been appointed as an eye care ambassador. The teachers will instruct students in eye care by using standard materials, monitor their vision regularly and urge them to attend clinics for re-examinations.