OBJECTIVES: To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among high school students in China.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tianjin, China. Three high schools were randomly selected in one district in Tianjin. Students participated in eye examinations and completed an online survey. The HRQoL was measured by using the Chinese version of National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25). Demographic characteristics, visual acuity and objective refraction were collected. According to the spherical equivalent (SE), students were divided into non-myopia or pre-myopia group (Group 1: 0.50 diopter [D]＜SE), low myopia group (Group 2: -3.00 D＜SE≤ -0.50 D), moderate myopia group (Group 3: -6.00 D＜SE≤-3.00 D), and high myopia group (Group 4: SE≤-6.00 D). The differences of sub-dimension scores of NEI-VFQ-25 among groups were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS: A total of 1,435 students (50.5% male, mean [SD] age 16.9 [0.9] years) were included in this study. The mean (SD) composite score of NEI VFQ-25 was 91.0 (9.4) and significant differences were found among the four groups (94.1[9.0], 92.2[8.7], 90.1[10.0], 90.5[9.0], respectively) (P<0.001). The mean (SD) sub-dimension scores of NEI VFQ-25 were found significantly different in general vision (85.9[21.4], 75.8[17.4], 72.0[18.2], 69.8[19.5], respectively) and mental health (91.9[15.8], 89.7[13.8], 86.3[17.3], 86.2[16.0], respectively) (P<0.001). Significant differences were also found in other sub-dimensions (near activities, role difficulties, and dependency) of NEI VFQ-25 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences of HRQoL were found in high school students with different myopia statuses in China. High school students with high myopia showed significant lower HRQoL in general vision and mental health than other myopia statuses.