Germany sees no rise in myopia among children, study finds

A German research team analysed about 1.25 million eyeglass prescriptions for 437 700 children and adolescents from 2001 to 2025. The data show that the prevalence of myopia (short‑sightedness) among German youths has remained stable, with no increase in the number of prescriptions linked to myopia over the 25‑year period. The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, contrasts the German trend with steep rises reported in East Asian countries, where myopia rates have jumped from roughly 20‑40 % before World War II to 60‑90 % today. Researchers note that German children spend more time outdoors and have different lifestyle factors, which may mitigate the global myopia surge. The analysis focused on children already wearing glasses, so it does not include those without corrective lenses, but the findings support the view that Europe’s myopia prevalence has stagnated since the early 2000s.