Objective To understand the current situation of poor eyesight and its dynamic changes, so as to provide the reference for formulating the strategy of prevention and control of myopia in primary and secondary school students in Zhenjiang City. Methods A total of 33 307 students aged 6 to 18 years from 8 primary and secondary schools in Zhenjiang City were selected by the stratified random cluster sampling method for visual acuity testing in three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017. The distribution characteristics and development trend of poor visual acuity among them were described and analyzed. Results The overall average rate of poor eyesight of primary and secondary school students was 63.52%. There was significant difference among the three years in the average rates of poor eyesight (P<0.01). The highest rate was 65.56% in 2017, which was higher than that in 2016 (61.82%) and in 2015 (63.17%), and the trend of the poor eyesight rate was upward in total (χ2=13.75, P<0.01). The total average rate of poor eyesight of the girls was higher than that of the boys (P<0.01). The total average rate of poor eyesight in three years was 47.86% in primary school pupils, 76.92% in junior high school students, and 90.23% in senior high school school students (P<0.01). Conclusion The rate of poor eyesight of primary and secondary school students in Zhenjiang City is relatively high in recent three years, showing an upward trend at the whole, and has the characteristics of the gender, school and age. Therefore, effective measures should be taken to prevent and control it comprehensively and scientifically according to the relevant requirements of the state.