Ophthalmologists Conduct Kindergarten Screenings: Nearly Half of 5-Year-Olds Show Signs of Pre-Myopia

The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare held a result sharing meeting for the 2025 academic year preschool vision screening pilot project today. Through collaboration across seven local governments and 697 preschools, 75 ophthalmologists performed cycloplegic refraction tests on 5-year-old children. Among the 14,570 children screened, 9.5% were diagnosed with myopia and 48.5% with pre-myopia, totaling 58%. Additionally, 40.7% of the children required referral for follow-up due to clinical abnormalities.

Dr. Tsai Tzu-hsun of National Taiwan University Hospital noted that beyond myopia, 14.39% showed symptoms of suspected amblyopia, while others exhibited strabismus (3.90%), significant astigmatism (7.19%), or hyperopia (2.51%). Out of the 5,827 children who failed the initial screening, 54.6% attended the follow-up, confirming myopia in 1,168 cases. Wang Yi-chung, Chairman of the Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan, emphasized that these findings highlight the necessity of early intervention to combat the 'myopia tsunami.'

HPA Director-General Shen Ching-fen stated that bringing ophthalmologists into preschools allows for the early detection of hyperopia reserve exhaustion and early-stage myopia. The HPA also clarified that the procedure involves professional administration of cycloplegic eye drops, followed by a period of rest and a computer-based refraction test. This model aims to expand to more counties and cities in the 2026 academic year to reduce the long-term risks associated with high myopia.