Acupuncture? Health? Instrument? It took tens of thousands of dollars to correct myopia in children, and the degree was deepened without effect

"Is it better to drop eye drops or take nutritional products that protect your eyes?" Is it better to train in 3D or use a massager? I really don't know what to do. Recently, Beijing citizen Ms. Liu reported to reporters that some time ago, her 7-year-old daughter was found to be 75 degrees of myopia, she took her daughter to try a variety of myopia treatment methods, the effect is not good, the degree of myopia not only did not decrease, but gradually increased, "This is completely different from the original publicity promised by the business."

With the arrival of summer, minors' myopia correction and vision prevention and control are gradually heating up. Many parents look forward to correcting their children's vision through rehabilitation during the holidays. However, the mixed myopia rehabilitation treatment market has discouraged many parents, and some parents have been deceived after trying some projects with their children.

What are the chaos in the children's myopia rehabilitation treatment market? How to remediate? The reporter launched an investigation.

Since his daughter was 7 years old myopia, Wang Meng, who lives in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, has been rushing on the road to correct his vision, "stepping on all the pits that can be stepped on, massage, acupuncture, intelligent instruments and equipment, it can be said that the correction 'family bucket', but there is no practical effect."

Wang Meng said: "At the beginning, we went to a correction institution that massaged acupuncture points, and immediately after each massage, we tested our vision, which really worked, and later found that it was only that the eyes relaxed at that time, not really able to correct myopia. A year later, his daughter's vision was not only not controlled, but her myopia increased by 100 degrees, which made the family complain and finally went to the hospital to get glasses.

Behind Wang's fierce step on the pit is the increasingly serious problem of myopia among children and adolescents on the mainland. According to data from the National Health Commission, in 2022, the overall myopia rate of children and adolescents in mainland China was 53.6%. Among them, the proportion of myopia among children under 6 years old was 14.5%, the proportion of myopia among primary school students was 36%, the proportion of myopia among junior high school students was 71.6%, and the proportion of myopia among high school students was 81%.

With the arrival of the summer vacation, many parents take advantage of their children's lack of time to run around trying to correct their children's vision and reduce their children's myopia. Parents' attention to the treatment of children's myopia has also pushed up the market heat of myopia prevention and control, and a batch of myopia correction products have emerged one after another.

However, after a large number of children and adolescents receive a variety of myopia treatment products and methods, they do not control the deepening of myopia, let alone restore their vision, and walk through the mixed myopia correction market, and many parents bluntly say that they are "pitted".

Known as three courses of lens removal

One year later, the degree increased

In Beijing during the summer vacation, the ophthalmology department of a hospital was crowded with parents and children waiting for the call.

Beijing citizen Fang Meng is one of them. Her daughter, Yueyue, 9, was found to be myopic two years ago during a routine physical examination at school, but the degree was less than 100 degrees. According to the recommendations of the physical examination, she took her daughter to the hospital for examination, and the doctor told her that to prevent myopia in adolescents, she needed to ensure two hours of outdoor time every day.

Fang Meng and her husband were very busy with work, unable to follow the doctor's advice to take time to take their daughter to outdoor activities, and when they went to the doctor to check their vision, the degree of myopia in Yueyue increased. This time, after inquiring about her family in detail, the doctor believed that the degree of myopia in Yueyue increased rapidly, which may be related to genetics, because Fang Meng and her husband are both myopic about 500 degrees, and at the same time, it is also related to Yueyue's use of electronic devices and lack of movement.

Fang Meng began to pay attention to her daughter's myopia problem, and then tried traditional Chinese medicine massage, eye patches, 3D training and other myopia correction methods, and she even listened to the propaganda of a vision restoration center that "remove glasses without surgery for a month, restore 100% of her vision", trying to restore her daughter's vision with so-called treatment equipment.

According to Fang Meng, spending a lot of money to buy treatment equipment, the child not only has no effect when wearing it, but also has a rapid decline in vision, which scares her to stop using it quickly, and other correction methods have no effect.

This summer, she grabbed the ophthalmology number of a hospital in advance and took her child to check her eyesight. The results of the test were not optimistic, the child's vision was still declining, and the doctor recommended that she give the child glasses.

Xiao from Hebei is 9 years old this year and has reached 475 degrees of myopia. Two years ago, when Qian Yao, the mother of the hour, learned that her son could not read the words on the blackboard, she took the child to the hospital for examination, and the hour was already myopic of more than 200 degrees. Qian Yao began to limit the frequency of his use of electronic products, and also gave him a lot of nutrients such as lutein, but the degree of myopia is still increasing.

Later, through the introduction of a friend, she took the child to a local institution that claimed to be able to treat myopia. When I went for the first time, my child couldn't even read the first line of the eye chart. After correction, he could see the third line of the eye chart, and under the recommendation of the other party, Qian Yao purchased a package at this institution. Unexpectedly, the number of treatments is increasing, but the treatment effect is getting worse and worse, and I can't see the first line of the eye chart clearly.

What makes parents depressed is that myopia correction has no effect, but the cost is not less, basically starting from 10,000 yuan, tens of thousands of yuan is normal.

According to Fang Meng, some of the myopia correction packages she bought for her daughter cost tens of thousands of yuan per course of treatment. Wang Meng also spends tens of thousands of yuan a year on myopia correction for his daughter.

The reporter visited and found that in the myopia correction market, all kinds of so-called correction products are dazzling, there are eye patches within 10 yuan, eye drops within 100 yuan, and myopia correction instruments and massage instruments with more than 1,000 yuan... But the effectiveness of these products is questionable.

On the e-commerce shopping platform, the reporter consulted the customer service of some merchants who sold eye patches, eye drops and treatment equipment, browsed the "product evaluation" and "ask everyone" information to understand the efficacy of their products, and found that the customer service did not promise to achieve a reduction in myopia after using the product.

If this is the case, why do parents spend a lot of money on myopia correction?

In Fang Meng's view, myopia correction involves eye expertise, and some institutions take advantage of parents' eagerness and professional barriers, coupled with sales tactics, "let us anxious parents 'rush to the doctor', thus falling into the pit."

Wang Meng told reporters that he was under the guarantee of "no surgery, no medicine, three courses of treatment to remove the lenses" and "no effect for one month, full refund" in the correction institution, the psychological defense line gradually loosened, so he embarked on a long road to myopia correction.

According to the introduction of a number of interviewed parents, the reporter summarized some vision correction institutions:

"If myopia correction is not carried out, the eyes will increase by 150 degrees a year, and after myopia prevention and control, it will not grow and may reduce the degree" - causing parents to be anxious about the development trend of myopia; "My two children have taken off their glasses through this product, one 200 degrees and the other 300 degrees, so I chose to make myopia correction products to help more people take off their glasses" - with their own "success" experience; "In the past two years, TV stations have had our ads, and athletes from international shooting competitions have put up this eye sticker, which shows that this product is very safe" - increase the credibility with advertising.

Create anxiety in communication groups

Unlisted products are sold directly

The reporter's investigation found that behind the choice of myopia correction by some parents, some myopia communication groups are filled with myopia anxiety that is created.

According to introductions, the reporter recently joined a number of myopia exchange groups.

One of them is called "Children's Myopia Prevention and Control Battle" discussion group, which has hundreds of members. The reporter noticed that the group prohibits others from publishing advertisements, and can only send links to eye protection products and share some eye protection articles from time to time. The reporter clicked the link to enter the store, which sells glasses, eye patches, fish oil, lutein and some treatment instruments and other goods, the group owner recommends to everyone is the "prevention and control four-piece set", that is, Xingqu control lens + light feeding instrument + telescopic lens + reverse shooting, the price of the whole set starts from tens of thousands of yuan.

In another myopia communication group with hundreds of group members, the group owner can also only post product introductions such as eye cream, and once someone asks in the group whether anyone has purchased eye protection cream and how effective the product is, the group owner immediately removes it from the group chat.

In a social group called "Children's Myopia Prevention and Control", the reporter just joined, and saw that the group owner with the remark "Ophthalmologist Dr. Li" was giving parents "popular science" about the harm of children's myopia: "A yearly increase of 100 degrees is too serious, the child is only 8 years old, and it must be controlled as soon as possible, otherwise in the future, when I go to junior high school and high school, the glasses will collapse the bridge of the nose..."

When parents introduced the "causes and consequences" and treatment methods of their children's myopia, "Dr. Li of Ophthalmology" replied: "In your child's situation, surgery not only has risks, but also the effect is not guaranteed." Long-term correction is best performed with low-concentration atropine, which can also be used with a defocus lens. ”

When other parents asked where to buy low-concentration atropine, Dr. Li quickly replied: "You can find me if you need it." ”

At this time, there will be "parents" in the group who will come out to "stand" for the group owner, saying that their children are using eye drops and OK glasses recommended by the group owner, and have successfully achieved a decrease in myopia.

The reporter found that whenever a new member enters the group, these "parents" will stand up to set the atmosphere, and from time to time @ the group owner, thank the group owner for the recommended products.

Through observation for 4 consecutive days, the reporter found that the above-mentioned "atmosphere group" account is an active member of the group, and each time the words are similar, mostly repeating the situation of their own children and thanking the group owner for the recommended products. At the same time, every once in a while, these accounts will modify their group notes and personal avatars to start a new round of "baking".

When the reporter added the above-mentioned "children's myopia prevention and control" group owner's social account, the group owner was very "cautious", asked the reporter through what channel to add his social account and asked the reporter's relevant information for verification. When the reporter said that he wanted to buy low-concentration atropine eye drops, the group owner sent 5 brands of low-concentration atropine eye drops, the price of each box ranged from 70 yuan to 400 yuan, and said "I am not a medicine seller, I am just an ophthalmologist."

The reporter also added a number of "doctors" who sold atropine eye drops, and when asked if they could prove their doctor's identity, the other party did not reply positively, but only emphasized that "it is a doctor, but it is not convenient to disclose specific information." If you want your child to lower the degree, buy it, and forget it if you don't believe it."

When the reporter asked about the source channel of the drug, the above-mentioned group owner replied: "There is no specific source, these eye drops are not on the market, and some are directly shipped by manufacturers." ”

It is understood that atropine is a commonly used clinical drug, the current concentration is between 0.01% and 0.05%, is widely used in myopic children with rapid increase in degree, also known as low-concentration atropine.

"At present, the mechanism of prevention and control of atropine eye drops on myopia is not clear." A doctor Zhao from a well-known eye hospital in Beijing told reporters that low-concentration atropine eye drops cannot be commercially purchased in China, please parents do not buy privately through purchasing and micro-commerce, even if it is genuine, whether the concentration is standard and how to use it is not checked by professionals, to avoid causing allergies and even atropine poisoning.

The threshold for joining institutions is not high

No professional background is required for employees

In the interview, some parents expressed their questions to reporters, what is the situation of the myopia correction institution that spent tens of thousands of yuan to find?

The reporter searched for thousands of franchise information on social platforms with the keyword "vision prevention and control franchise".

According to public information, if you want to join a vision correction agency, you need to go through the process of joining consultation, applying for an agent, finding a store, headquarters review, headquarters site visit, negotiation and review of agents, signing a franchise contract, training and coaching agents. The franchise fee ranges from 100,000 yuan to 600,000 yuan, and the franchise fee includes providing brand authorization, site selection and decoration guidance, technical training for franchisees, personnel recruitment and professional personnel training, providing instruments and equipment, opening guidance and operation services. In the franchise commitment, the headquarters will provide brand advantages, professional guidance and management, marketing promotion and other services, but will not make profit commitments to franchisees.

The reporter contacted a franchised brand in Shandong as a franchisee, and when asked what qualifications were needed to join, the other party emphasized that only business licenses and optometric qualification certificates were required, and the headquarters would provide support such as enterprise credit rating certificates, product patent certificates, brand honorary qualifications, etc., and did not require ophthalmology professional background.

According to the requirements of relevant professional standards, vision correction instructors need to hold a certificate to work, and there are requirements such as age, education and years of experience. However, when the reporter asked a franchised brand whether to review its vision correction instructor certificate when recruiting employees, the other party replied: "I have never heard of any certificate, the headquarters will conduct staff training for franchisees, usually 5 days, and you can start the job after the training." ”

The reporter found through inquiries about a number of third-party application institutions that it takes about 30 to 45 days from registration to collection, and the cost ranges from 1200 yuan to 1800 yuan. Some institutions said that they would give the question bank, "brush it before the exam, there is no problem in passing the exam"; Some institutions even promise, "It doesn't matter if you don't have time to brush up on questions or listen to lectures, institutions can 'help'"; What's more, in order to encourage students to register, some institutions have clearly stated that "free hosting will be arranged for lectures, the examination can be operated, and the certificate will be obtained".

The reporter also found that many institutions recruit "vision caregivers" in the name of recruiting, but do not make any professional, skilled and qualification requirements for candidates. For newcomers without any professional foundation, the other party said that they can train first and then take up the job, as much as a week, as little as one or two days to get started.

The reporter contacted a vision correction institution in Beijing on the grounds of applying for the position of "acupressure point masseur around the eyes". Regarding the qualifications, its staff said: "It is best to have experience in TCM massage, have affinity and patience, and have certain sales experience." When the reporter said that he did not have any ophthalmic expertise and no experience in traditional Chinese medicine massage, the staff member replied: "It doesn't matter if you don't have massage experience, the important thing is to have good expression skills and sales experience." ”

It is understood that in some vision correction institutions, vision physiotherapists generally wear many positions, not only responsible for eye acupressure massage for adolescents who come to undergo vision correction, but also promote the products and packages of myopia correction of the institution. The staff of the above-mentioned institutions also told reporters that if the sales of vision physiotherapists reach 30,000 yuan, they can get 3 points (3%) bonuses, and more than 100,000 yuan can get 15 points (15%) bonuses.

There is currently no cure for myopia

Marketing must not mislead the public

For parents, they are eager to know whether the myopia of children and adolescents can be corrected, and how to choose in the face of the mixed myopia correction market?

In this regard, an optometrist at the Optometry Center of Peking University People's Hospital believes that there are many methods and equipment for the prevention of myopia in children on the market, but there is no "artifact" that can reverse myopia.

The above-mentioned ophthalmologist Dr. Zhao told reporters that for teenagers, there are generally pseudomyopia and true myopia, pseudomyopia is mainly caused by long-term bad eye habits, generally rarely exceed 200 degrees, and will become true myopia if it lasts. Pseudomyopia can be recovered by resting and correcting bad eye habits, and various methods and instruments for the treatment of pseudomyopia on the market currently have specific and exact curative effects, which need to be further verified.

Dr. Zhao told reporters that taking eye protection patches, eye ointments, acupressure massagers, intelligent training devices, etc. appearing on the market as an example, the expressions used in publicity such as "rehabilitation", "recovery", "relief of eye fatigue", "reduction of prescription", "improvement of vision", "cure of myopia" and "prescription repair" lack scientific basis, which not only infringes on consumers' right to know, but even causes some consumers to misunderstand, and then ignores children's myopia prevention and control work.

In fact, in recent years, the Ministry of Education, the National Health Commission and other departments have issued a number of policy documents to effectively strengthen the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents in the new era.

For example, as early as 2019, the Ministry of Education and other departments jointly issued the Notice on Further Standardizing the Myopia Correction of Children and Adolescents and Effectively Strengthening Supervision, pointing out that "under the current medical technology conditions, myopia cannot be cured", and clearly requires institutions or individuals not to mislead the public by using expressions such as "rehabilitation" and "reducing degree" in marketing.

Chen Yinjiang, deputy secretary-general of the Consumer Rights Protection Law Research Association of the China Law Society, said that many vision correction institutions lack diagnosis and treatment qualifications and professionals, and often use verbal promises to mislead consumers, so consumers should try to convert oral promises into written agreements and retain evidence for future rights protection.

Although myopia cannot be cured, it can be prevented and controlled. In addition to congenital genetic factors, acquired unscientific eye habits are the main causes. Industry insiders therefore suggest that in addition to cooperating with treatment, everyone is the first responsible person for their own health, and students should also minimize "screen reading" time, and should maintain more than two hours of extracurricular activities every day, while maintaining correct learning posture.

(Interviewees are pseudonyms) 　

Source: Rule of Law Daily

WeChat editor: nano

Proofreader: SYL