High Myopia: How It Can Affect Vision and Eye Health

High myopia or severe nearsightedness is a refractive error. It happens when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea is overly curved. As a result, light won’t focus correctly on the retina, causing distant objects to appear blurred. You have high myopia if you have a refractive error of at least -6.00. Regular visits to your local eye clinic can help with its early detection and treatment.

Keep reading to learn more about high myopia and how it can impact your vision and eye health.

What Are the Common Symptoms of High Myopia?

Distorted or blurred vision, especially when looking at something far, is the most common symptom of high myopia. Patients might need to squint or partially close their eyes to see clearly. Frequent headaches, eye strain and poor night vision are other usual signs of this condition. These symptoms may not always be present or vary in intensity from person to person.

Who Are At Risk?

Various factors can increase your risk for high myopia. Among them is genetics. If your parents have high myopia, you’re more likely to have the condition. Age is also a risk factor, as myopia typically starts in childhood and progresses through teenage years.

Likewise, one’s environment contributes to the development of high myopia. Activities that require intense focus on close-up work, such as reading or using a computer for extended periods, may heighten its risk. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes, can also increase the likelihood of developing high myopia.

How Is It Diagnosed?

A comprehensive eye exam can reveal if you have high myopia. An eye specialist will thoroughly examine and measure your eyes during your appointment. They might use special tools and devices to measure the cornea’s curvature and the eyeball’s length. In children, routine eye exams can help in early detection. Spotting signs early can help manage the condition before it progresses.

How Can It Impact Daily Life?

When not managed properly, high myopia can significantly impact your daily life. For example, it can affect your ability to perform tasks that demand distance vision, such as driving or watching television. Reading roadsigns, recognizing faces from a distance and participating in outdoor sports could also become challenging.

High myopia can limit career options, particularly those requiring excellent vision, such as piloting or professional sports. Individuals with this condition might experience the inconvenience of always wearing glasses or contact lenses, which can be a hassle in some situations, like rainy weather or swimming. It can lead to discomfort or self-consciousness, especially for younger individuals.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

Managing high myopia involves using prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, your eye doctor might also recommend other methods like orthokeratology or laser eye surgery, depending on the condition’s severity. While glasses and contacts help sharpen your vision, they don’t reverse or slow down the progression of myopia.

Living with high myopia involves making adjustments to your daily routine, but it doesn’t have to limit your quality of life. It’s vital to keep up with your contact eye exam appointments and ensure your prescriptions are up-to-date. Also, be vigilant about changes in your vision.

A key aspect of living with high myopia is adopting effective management strategies. For instance, you can set reminders to take regular breaks from working on your computer. You can also make changes to your workstation, like adjusting the placement of your monitor or investing in ergonomically designed furniture.

High Myopia and Vision-Threatening Eye Conditions

Cataracts

A usual eye condition in older adults, cataracts is the clouding of the eye’s lens. There is evidence that patients with high myopia are more likely to need cataract surgery than those with moderate myopia.

Macular Degeneration

Usually an age-related condition, macular degeneration affects central vision. Nearly 20 million adults in the U.S. have it. The older you get and the more severe your myopia is, the more likely you are to develop macular degeneration.

Glaucoma

Often, glaucoma doesn’t manifest early signs. This eye condition affects the optic nerve in the back of the eye. While it has no cure, early treatment can help prevent irreversible vision loss. The risk of developing this eye condition is 50% higher in people with moderate to high myopia than those with low myopia.

Retinal Detachment

You are up to six times more likely to suffer from retinal detachment if you have high myopia. When the eyeball excessively elongates, the retina can stretch and thin out. Retinal detachment is an emergency condition that can cause permanent vision loss.

Why Early Detection and Proper Management Matters

Early detection and intervention can make a world of difference. It gives you and your eye care professionals a better chance of managing high myopia effectively and minimizing potential complications.

You can take several measures to slow down the progression of high myopia. Taking frequent breaks from screens can help reduce eyestrain. You can try the 20-20-20 rule, where you look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

Several studies have also shown that sunlight exposure and outdoor activities can slow myopia progression in children. Regardless of age, you must regularly schedule eye exams. It can help catch early signs of various eye conditions, including high myopia. Routine eye checks can also detect indications of other health issues, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and thyroid disease.