AIM: To investigate the status of myopia in students from different kinds of schools in Shantou city, China.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 2 418 students from 4 middle and high schools in Shantou were surveyed through randomized cluster sampling. Ophthalmic examination and auto-refraction were performed for all subjects.

RESULTS: Among all 2 394 students examined. The myopia rates for students from middle and high school were 48.07% and 68.28%. In normal middle school, students from rural area had lower rate of myopia than students from the urban area(χ²=13.879, P<0.01). Students from key rural high schools had lower rate of myopia than students from key urban high school(χ²=175.231, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION:The prevalence of myopia in the middle school of urban area in Shantou was higher than rural area. The increasing rate of myopia in youngsters is correlated with study stress. In order to decrease the myopia rate, it is extremely important to improve study environment in students.