Proper habit

• Keep a distance of at least 30cm between the eyes and the books.
• Do not read while lying in bed as you may move the book closer and closer to the eyes without noticing it.
• Do not read without adequate lighting.
• Take a rest for 20 to 30 seconds after every 20 to 30 minutes of screen use.
• Change position, blink eyes and do muscle relaxation exercise frequently.
• Keep reading distance no less than 50cm from a computer screen, 40cm from a tablet or e-book, and 30cm from a smartphone.
• For students of 6 to 12 years old: limit recreational screen time to no more than two hours a day.
• For students of 12 to 18 years old: avoid prolonged screen time.
• For outdoor activity under sunlight, evening time is preferred.

Optimal lighting

• Use ceiling lights when reading. Lighting should be even and bright without excessive glare.
• For right-handers, light from a desk lamp should be shone from the left upper corner when they are writing, and from the right upper corner for left-handers. Do not shine light directly into the eyes.
• Watch television with room lights on.

• Poor quality printed materials will cause eye strain. Words should be clearly printed; both the font size and the spacing should be appropriate.
• Glossy paper can cause glare and lead to eye strain after prolonged reading.
• Dark-coloured paper reduces clarity and makes reading difficult.

Keep your eyes and body healthy

• Have a balanced diet: eat more cereal, grains, vegetables and fruits as well as a moderate amount of meat, but eat less fat.
• Eat food rich in vitamin A (e.g. tomatoes and carrots) which is good for your eyesight.
• Have adequate sleep to rest your eyes.

• Have vision test once a year. Wear glasses if myopia affects your academic performance or daily activities.
• Wearing glasses make your vision clearer but it cannot cure or prevent myopia from worsening. On the contrary, not wearing properly prescribed spectacles will affect your vision and academic performance.