China leads the world in attention to eye health, with 63 percent of respondents in China getting an eye examination at least once a year. Seven in 10 of those interviewed in China said that they had taken more measures to protect their eyes during the pandemic, a recent survey found.

The survey, launched by Johnson & Johnson Vision, is a comprehensive, large-scale global eye health survey conducted to shed light on people's understanding of the importance of eye health. The launch of the survey is part of the company's effort to raise awareness about the importance of eye health and encourage everyone to get an annual eye exam.

In China, the survey follows a series of eye health education efforts by Johnson & Johnson Vision as part of its "Connected by Sight" campaign, which kicked off on June 6 — National Eye Care Day.

"We are committed to discovering patients' unmet clinical needs in time and providing better solutions, especially the two major obstacles to eye health — disease awareness and access to medical resources," said Shlomi Nachman, global chairman of Johnson & Johnson Cardiovascular and Specialty Solutions Group and Johnson & Johnson Vision Group.

"Through this survey, we can better understand patients' perceptions of eye diseases and encourage people to pay attention to eye health through regular eye examinations," he said.

According to the survey, more than three-quarters of Chinese adults surveyed said they view eye health as important for their overall health and recognized that healthy vision improves their overall quality of life and is critical to overall happiness and well-being.

The impact of COVID-19, such as increased screen time due to work-from-home and remote learning situations, also has intensified China's attention towards eye health. Seven in 10 of people interviewed in China, or 71 percent, said they had taken more measures to protect their eyes now during the pandemic. Some 69 percent of Chinese adults also reported they are more aware about touching their eyes since the pandemic began, the survey showed.

However, the study found that this high awareness does not necessarily translate to action. While an encouraging 63 percent reported going for an eye exam every year, this still leaves a considerable segment of Chinese adults skipping eye checks. In fact, 8 percent are reportedly not planning to schedule an eye exam anytime soon.

The top three factors behind this phenomenon include: Not noticing any change in vision (29 percent), being reluctant or unable to schedule an eye exam due to the pandemic (23 percent), and not having the time (20 percent).

Additional survey insights also shone light on a pressing lack of understanding about cataracts, one of the world's leading causes for blindness, in China. Some 65 percent of respondents in China said they are familiar with cataracts, lower than the global average. While most respondents (80 percent) accurately identified that surgery is an effective treatment for cataracts, respondents in China also believe treatment of cataracts can be achieved with lifestyle changes and the use of eye drops.

This demonstrates an important need for increased education about cataract awareness in China, Johnson & Johnson Vision said.

A cataract is an eye disease with high morbidity in China. According to the Chinese Ophthalmological Society of the Chinese Medical Association, in 2018, the morbidity of cataracts reached 80 percent in those aged between 60 to 89, and 90 percent of those aged above 90 in China.