The summer ophthalmology clinic rush has arrived. Among a group of nearsighted children, one girl stood out—not for her beauty, but for her thick glasses. The two lenses resembled the bottoms of glass bottles, covering half her face.Examination revealed the girl had over 1000 degrees of myopia, classifying her as a child with extreme hyperopia. Her corrected vision in the right eye was only 0.3 (roughly 2cm², equivalent to the size of a 50-cent coin), while her left eye could only discern the number of fingers held in front of her face.
(Glasses for extreme myopia)
So the questions arise:
Do you know what constitutes high myopia versus extreme myopia?
What are the symptoms of extreme myopia?
What risks does extreme myopia pose? Could it lead to blindness?
What precautions should be taken for extreme myopia?
Today, an ophthalmologist will address each question.
High myopia refers to nearsightedness with a prescription of ≥ -6.00D (600 degrees or higher). Ultra-high myopia denotes prescriptions of ≥ -10.00D (1000 degrees or higher), which not only affects vision but also triggers numerous complications.
I. Leopard-Spot Retina
The eyeball in ultra-high myopia continuously elongates like a sphere. This elongation thins the retina, making it resemble a sponge being stretched. During this process, the retina becomes increasingly thin, resulting in a leopard-spot pattern on the retinal surface (leopard-spot retina).
(Leopard-spot fundus)
II. Floaters
During this elongation, the vitreous body—originally a colorless, odorless gel—is stretched. Part of this gel gradually liquefies, a process called vitreous liquefaction.If this jelly deteriorates and becomes cloudy (vitreous degeneration and opacity), dark shadows resembling mosquitoes may float across the visual field—a condition known as "floaters."
III. Retinal Hemorrhage
In cases of severe myopia, the eyeball enlarges. As the outer wall of the eyeball grows continuously, the inner wall cannot keep pace with this expansion. This can cause capillary rupture, leading to retinal hemorrhage. This results in distorted vision, a sensation of something blocking the field of vision, or even sudden loss of clarity.
IV. Retinal Detachment and Blindness
As the retina thins with high myopia, tears or holes may form in certain areas, leading to retinal degeneration. Severe cases can cause retinal detachment. This not only severely impairs vision but may even result in blindness.
In summary, preventing myopia in children is crucial. For those already experiencing myopia, special attention must be paid to prevent progression to high myopia or even extreme myopia.
Tips:
Wear properly fitted glasses
Children with myopia must undergo comprehensive eye examinations—including retinal and axial length assessments—followed by scientific medical refraction to ensure glasses are correctly fitted.
Avoid strenuous activities
Due to the fragility of eyes with high myopia, avoid intense physical activities like roller coasters, weightlifting, basketball, or diving. Such activities significantly increase the risk of retinal detachment.
Practice healthy eye habits
Avoid heavy physical labor and prolonged close-up work. Maintain scientifically sound eye usage practices.
IV. Schedule regular follow-ups.
Schedule regular ophthalmic examinations to monitor axial length, vitreous opacity, retinal health, and the presence of retinal tears or detachments. Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing vision loss, distorted vision, or visual field defects to ensure early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.