According to the survey on Chinese students' physical health for 2004 released by the Ministry of Education, 80 percent of Chinese college students have poor eyesight. The ratio of male students with bad eyesight is 77.8 percent and that of female students is 82 percent.

In addition to the high ratio of poor eyesight among college students, the ratio of senior high students with bad eyesight reaches 77.3 percent. 59.4 percent of junior high students and 32.5 percent of 7 to 12-year-old pupils have poor eyesight.

The ministry initiated the "network monitoring Chinese students' physical health" since 2002 and conducts a survey on students' health condition every two years. The survey in 2004 was the second of its kind.

(Chinanews.cn July 21, 2005)