081126- China Fights Weak Eyesight

China Fights Weak Eyesight

Traditional Chinese massage combined with everyday life.

To fight bad eyesight, schoolchildren are learning eye exercises in Beijing classrooms.

Some study results have showed that nine out ten school children here have bad eyesight.

A school doctor says a new series of massages are aimed at combating the deterioration of eyesight.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin with English translation) SCHOOL MEDIC, DR SHAO, SAYING:

"It is a combination of massage and applying pressure to pressure points, a mixture of sport and medicine, all merged together."

Children's eye woes have been blamed on too much studying in an overly competitive school system.

Eye exercises have been common practice in Chinese schools since Mao's era.

But the new treatment focuses on pressure points around the head, including the back of the neck and ears.

Some doctors say the solution to the problem may be even simpler.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDER OF SEKWA EYE HOSPITAL LI XIPU SAYING:

"Yes, they have to spend less time in the classroom in reading and spend more time outdoors."

A Xinhua news report cited experts saying excessive eyestrain, not genetic weakness, accounts for 45 percent of problems, while over 80 percent of university students are afflicted.

Kitty Bu reporting for Reuters in Beijing.

eyesight - normal use of the faculty of vision
aim To determine a course or direct an effort: aim for a better education.
merge To combine or unite: merging two sets of data.
woes misfortunes or problems: economic woes
blame To place responsibility for (something): blamed the crisis on poor planning.