Abstract: As a long-term implemented policy aim at preventing and controlling myopia, eye exercise was not universally recognized during 60-year course of promotion. In this paper, we review the empirical literature on the historical evolution and actual effectiveness, as well as present an outlook on possible policy interventions represented by the eye exercise in this new era, which can provide a reference for the prevention and control of myopia. Due to the active role in relieving the visual fatigue and decreasing the duration of focused continuous reading, eye exercise is one of the effective intervention to prevent and control myopia. Nevertheless, eye exercise should not be considered the sole pathway to dependent given. The preventing and controlling of myopia is a complex systematic enterprise. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2021, 30: 173-176)

Key words: eye exercise, myopia, prevention and control, outdoor activity, health education