Objective To investigate the changes in the relative peripheral refractive error (RPRE) of the human eye and its regularity under sustained near work conditions. Methods Twenty-five myopic subjects were enrolled, ranging in age from 22 to 33 years with an average age of (26.6±0.4)years. The spherical equivalent refractive error ranged from -1.50 D to -6.50 D, with an average of (-3.75±0.33)D, and astigmatism was less than 0.75 D. Soft contact lenses were used to correct refractive error for both eyes during the study. Autorefractive measurements at the fovea and at 30° eccentricity in the temporal retina at distances of 5 m, 33 cm, and 33 cm after 45 min of sustained reading at 33 cm were obtained using the spherical equivalent calculated with a Grand Seilko WAM-5500 autorefractor. Only the right eye of each subject was tested. Twenty readings were taken for each gaze condition and the mean value was used for analysis after excluding any values that were outside a certain range (mean±2SD). Measurements of relative peripheral refractive error (RPRE) were analyzed by a paired samples t test and Pearson's correlation analysis. Results The RPRE was (0.99±0.66)D at a distance of 5 m as a baseline, indicating myopes displayed hyperopic shifts in the peripheral field and became less hyperopic with accommodation [(0.73±0.61)D], but there were no significant differences (t=1.71, P=0.10). After 45 min of sustained reading at 33 cm, there was a hyperopic shift of (l.05±0.68)D, and there was a significant difference relative to pre-reading (t=-8.33, P=0.00). The accommodative response for the pre-reading condition was (2.15±0.32)D, and increased to (2.19±0.33)D after 45 min of sustained reading at 33 cm, but there was no significant difference (t =1.43, P =0.17) and there was no correlation between the subject's change in accommodative response and the change in RPRE (r=-0.272, P=0.188). Conclusion Sustained reading may have a significant effect on RPRE. There is an immediate hyperopic shift after sustained reading, indicat