High myopia is exactly like what it sounds like, a high degree of nearsightedness or short-sighted. This eye condition is a relatively severe level of short-sightedness that can lead or be associated with significant eye health complications.
Normally, individuals who develop high myopia became short-sighted in childhood which then their myopia progressively gets worse year after years during their schooling years and at times, beyond the ages of 18 to 20.
Although this condition can’t cause someone to lose their vision but it can lead to these eye conditions:
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
Genetics play a huge role in contributing to this condition as if both parents are quite myopic, the chances of the child having high myopia increases.
If you have this condition, it is extremely important to get your eyes checked on a regular basics to ensure that your short-sight doesn’t worsen and to catch any eye problems that may arise.
In children, if your child’s myopia is worsening year after year, it is best to consult your optometrist about ways that can help control your child’s short-sighted progression.
An option to help slow or stop the progression of myopia is Orthokeratology or Ortho-K. It is essentially a contact lens that your child wears at night that gently reshapes the eyes overnight which results in clear vision without corrective lenses during the day. Although it may be a temporary fixed, it has been shown to improve myopia.
If your child is myopia and have the fear that they may experience high myopia or you yourself are worried, book an appointment or call us for more information.