What are the chances of going blind from myopia?

The prevalence of visual impairment rose with increasing axial length and spherical equivalent, so that among participants with high myopia, cumulative risk of visual impairment was 5.7% at 60 years and 39% at 75 years.

How do people with high myopia see?

People with high myopia have a longer eyeball shape than people with mild myopia. This means light focuses even farther away from their retinas and makes distance vision extremely blurry.

Is high myopia legally blind?

Moderate myopia has values of diopters from -3.00 to -6.00D. Usually, wearing the correct prescription glasses or contact lenses will mean your vision is fully functional. High myopia is usually myopia over -6.00D. In most cases, without glasses or contact lenses you will be legally blind.

What level of myopia is legally blind?

In order to be considered Legally Blind, your vision must be WORSE than 20/200 in your BEST eye while you are wearing your glasses or contacts. So, how poorly you see without your glasses or contact lenses has nothing to do with it.

Can Lasik cure high myopia?

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) surgery is a procedure to restructure the cornea and correct myopia. It corrects myopia in most people who undergo the procedure.

Is it possible for myopia to lead to blindness?

Can myopia lead to blindness? In extreme circumstances, myopia (nearsightedness) can lead to serious, vision-threatening complications, including blindness. However, this is rare and occurs primarily in cases where high myopia has reached an advanced stage called degenerative myopia (or pathological myopia).

What are the symptoms of high myopia in the eyes?

The eyes are large resulting in high myopia and apparent proptosis. The palpebral fissures usually slant downwards and ectopia lentis may be present.

How does myopia affect the risk of cataract?

In the Beijing Eye Study, it was found that the major cause of vision impairment is cataract in older adults but pathologic myopia in the younger cohort (6). Myopia causes vision impairment not only by direct retinal damage (7) but also by increasing the risks for cataract (8) and the onset of glaucoma (9).

When to see an eye doctor for myopia?

Routine eye exams and myopia control measures are the best ways to help slow the progression of myopia and reduce the risk of dangerous complications from high myopia that could cause blindness. If it’s been more than a year since your last eye exam, schedule one today with an eye doctor near you.