German Study Finds No Rise in Myopia Among Children Over 25 Years

Researchers from the University of Freiburg analysed about 1.25 million eyeglass prescriptions for roughly 438 000 German children and adolescents aged 3‑18 between 2001 and 2025. The data show that the prevalence of myopia (short‑sightedness) has remained stable – there is no increase in myopic prescriptions over the past 25 years. The average refractive error and the probability of needing glasses have stayed broadly unchanged, with the youngest cohorts even showing a slight shift toward hyperopia.

The team attributes the German plateau to regional lifestyle factors such as more outdoor time and less intensive schooling compared with East Asian countries, where myopia rates have surged to 60‑90 % in young adults. Their findings also refute a pandemic‑related “myopia‑plus” effect; the COVID‑19 lockdowns did not trigger a measurable rise in myopia in Germany. The study notes limitations – it only covers children who already received a prescription, not the entire child population.

These results contrast sharply with the rapid rise seen across East Asia, underscoring how environmental and behavioural differences can influence vision trends.