ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, President: Hidetoshi Segi) conducted a survey on awareness of eye care and lifestyle habits among parents and children of elementary school students residing in five countries: the United States, Singapore, China, Germany, and Japan, in conjunction with Children's Eye Day on June 10th *1, amidst growing global interest in children's eye health. This survey was conducted via the internet among parents of elementary school students in each country and does not accurately reflect the general demographic trends of each country.
This international survey aims to understand the awareness of eye care among parents in various countries, as well as the differences in their daily behaviors and habits, in light of the ongoing 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo), which is spurring increased global outreach and exchange. Our company is also participating in the Expo by exhibiting a booth and offering eye health checks to visitors, demonstrating our commitment to "eye health awareness" from a global perspective.
The results of this survey revealed differences and characteristics among the five countries, as well as among parents and children in each country, regarding parents' awareness and practices of caring for their children's eyes, their relationship with digital devices, and their tendencies towards outdoor activities.
*1: "Children's Eye Day" is a commemorative day established by the Japan Ophthalmology Awareness Conference through the Japan Anniversary Association, with the wish to "nurture 1.0 vision by age 6."
Survey Overview
| Countries surveyed |
United States, Singapore, China, Germany, Japan |
| Survey participants |
Parents of elementary school children: 100 people from each country (500 people in total) |
| Survey methodology |
Internet survey |
| Research institutions |
Company research |
| Survey period |
May 19th (Monday) to May 27th (Tuesday), 2025 |
*The numerical results of the survey have been rounded to the nearest whole number, so there may be discrepancies when performing cumulative calculations.
*When presenting the survey results, please include the note "According to Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd."
*For questions regarding visual acuity, the survey uses localized answer choices that conform to the terminology and standards of each country.
*While there are various causes of vision loss, this survey did not focus on any specific cause.
*This survey was conducted via the internet targeting parents of elementary school students in each country and does not accurately reflect the general demographic trends of each country.
PART 1: Children's eye care and its contents, and parents' awareness of eye care.
Regarding awareness of eye care for elementary school children, the percentage of parents who answered that they "do a lot/do a fair amount" of care was around 90% in all countries: 94.0% in the United States, 88.0% in Singapore, 98.0% in China, and 85.0% in Germany.
Furthermore, when we asked those who answered that they "do a lot/somewhat" in terms of eye care for their children what kind of care they were doing, we found differences in awareness among parents in the five countries *2.
American parents' responses suggest they are mindful of care items such as "using glasses or contact lenses *3" and "regular eye exams."
In responses from parents in Singapore, a strong awareness of caring for their children's living environment was evident, including "using glasses or contact lenses *3," "managing screen time on digital devices," and "adequate lighting."
The responses from Chinese parents showed awareness of almost all items, including "promoting outdoor activities," "eyesight checks," "managing time spent using digital devices," "sleep," and "diet," indicating a broad range of care awareness.
Responses from German parents reveal a strong awareness of the importance of caring for their children's living environment, including "eye exams," "managing screen time on digital devices," and "appropriate lighting."
While the responses from Japanese parents are based on a small sample size and should be considered as reference values, they suggest that there is awareness of the importance of "vision testing" and "managing time spent with digital devices."
*2: The data on care content in Japan is for reference only as the sample size is less than 30.
*3: It is assumed that corrections have been made as needed based on ophthalmological examinations, etc.
Differences were also observed across countries regarding parents' awareness of eye care. In response to the question, "What do you do to care for your own eyes?", 12.0% of parents in Japan answered that they "do not take care of their own eyes," compared to 4.0% in Germany, and 0% in the United States, Singapore, and China. This suggests that in all of these countries, the vast majority of parents take care of their own eyes.
The study suggested that parents in Japan may have a somewhat low level of awareness regarding their own eye health.
PART 2: Children's Lifestyles Around the World
Since there is said to be a certain correlation between the amount of time spent using digital devices, the amount of time spent outdoors, and eyesight, we investigated the actual situation regarding these factors.
According to responses from parents in each country, the average daily time children spend on digital devices *4 was 96.9 minutes in the United States, 93.3 minutes in Singapore, 56.8 minutes in China, 69.6 minutes in Germany, and 89.7 minutes in Japan, with China having the shortest average.
Regarding the average time spent outdoors *4, the United States averaged 91.1 minutes, Singapore 88.4 minutes, China 83.6 minutes, Germany 115.3 minutes, and Japan 72.8 minutes, with Germany having the longest average.
*4: The average value is calculated using the median of each option (e.g., 1-15 minutes → 8 minutes, 16-30 minutes → 23 minutes, etc.) and weighted according to the number of respondents.
PART 3: Commentary by ophthalmologist Dr. Saeko Matsumura
This international survey revealed that only 26.0% of elementary school students in Japan practice eye care at home, a remarkably low rate compared to other countries. In China and the United States, over 90% of parents practice eye care, and in Germany and Singapore, over 80% do, while in Japan, only about one in four parents do. Furthermore, 12% of Japanese parents do not practice eye care themselves, suggesting that this low level of health awareness may be influencing the eye care they provide for their children.
Of particular note are the differences in the content of eye care implemented in each country. In China, comprehensive measures are established that include not only vision tests and management of digital device use, but also sleep, diet, and outdoor activities. In Singapore, correction and improvement of living environment are the focus, in the United States, the emphasis is on ophthalmic care, and in Germany, preventive approaches such as lighting environment and digital device management are prevalent. In contrast, in Japan, the implementation rate for many items is lower than in other countries, highlighting the reality that preventive measures within the home are not progressing.
In terms of lifestyle habits, Japanese elementary school students spend a relatively long time interacting with digital devices (approximately 85 minutes), while their outdoor activity time is the shortest among the five countries at 72.8 minutes, indicating a tendency towards increased risk of myopia. In particular, myopia has been occurring at younger ages in recent years, and data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology shows that the number of elementary school students with uncorrected visual acuity below 1.0 is increasing year by year.
Going forward, it will be necessary to correct the misguided sense of security that "everything is fine because I can see," and for parents themselves to have the correct knowledge and practice daily care.
Examples of care that can be incorporated into daily life include:
- Outdoor activities aimed at 2 hours per day
- 30-minute breaks between tasks
- Maintain correct posture and viewing distance (30cm or more).
- Lighting with a brightness of 500 lux or more
- Limits on the usage time of smartphones and other devices (1.5 hours or less for lower elementary school students, and 2 hours or less for upper elementary school students).
- Improving sleep quality
These are some examples.
Furthermore, if any abnormalities are detected during a school health checkup, it is crucial to consult an ophthalmologist and receive treatment or correction as necessary. We hope this survey will be the first step in protecting children's eyesight.
Saeko Matsumura
Affiliation: Lecturer, Toho University Omori Medical Center
Specialty: Pediatric ophthalmology, myopia
Joined Toho University Medical Center Omori Hospital in 2002.
2004: Enrolled in the doctoral program at Toho University Graduate School.
Assistant Professor, Toho University Omori Medical Center, 2008
2008: Chief of Ophthalmology, Saiseikai Yokohama City Eastern Hospital
2017: Clinical Research Fellow, National Eye Centre, Singapore
Assistant Professor, Toho University Omori Medical Center, 2020
Lecturer, Toho University Omori Medical Center, 2023
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Rohto Pharmaceutical's commitment to eye health for people around the world
Our company, in collaboration with our overseas group companies, is undertaking various initiatives to maintain the eye health of people not only in Japan but also around the world.
For more details, please check here.
Our commitment to eye health
Since launching our first eye drops in 1909, we have advanced our research into eye care, developed and sold products that meet diverse needs, and communicated the importance of eye health to all generations through various activities. In recent years, we have come to believe that it is important to take an interest in eye care from an early age in order to protect and maintain lifelong eye health, and we are particularly focusing on activities that target children's eyes.
In 2023, the Japan Ophthalmological Society designated June 10th as "Children's Eye Day." Our company will continue to carry out activities that will encourage more people to take an interest in children's eye health.
Recent initiatives
Our company will be a sponsor and exhibitor at the "Osaka Healthcare Pavilion" at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo.
In the future of medicine and healthcare, this pavilion aims to help people discover their potential and take a positive step forward, and will feature an exhibit where visitors can experience "future eye care" using PHR data.
As a leading company in eye care, we will continue to provide opportunities for as many people as possible to become aware of, think about, and take action regarding their own eyes and the eyes of their loved ones through various proposals.
Details of our company's initiatives at the World Expo can be found here.